CHESTERTOWN — Washington College volleyball improved to 9-4 after defeating non-conference foes Rutgers-Camden and Lebanon Valley in a tri-match here on Saturday.
The Shore netters have now won nine matches in a row, after an 0-4 start.
Washington took a 15-13 fifth set to defeat Rutgers-Camden, 3-2. The other set scores were 21-25, 30-28, 25-20 and 21-25.
Holding a slim 20-19 lead in the first set, Rutgers-Camden won five of the next seven points to close out the set and take its only lead of the match.
With the second set deadlock at 27-all, Washington closed on a 3-1 run that was punctuated by a Giselle Kleinbussink kill.
Gianna Folke’s kill closed out the third set, with Washington winning seven of the last eight points.
An attacking error by the Shore ladies was set point in the fourth set, which the visitors clinched with an 8-4 finishing run.
Washington won the closely contested fifth set on a Folke kill.
For the match, Washington was led by Kleinbussink (15 kills), Allison McKechnie (13 kills, 24 assists and 15 digs), Izzy Diehl (12 kills), Folke (10 kills), Alexis Stubbs (28 assists), Anna Titter (career-best 25 digs and three aces) and Lyndsey Wessel (match-best five blocks).
As a team, the locals hit .200, totaled nine blocks and served up six aces.
In the final match of the afternoon, Washington swept Lebanon Valley. Set scores were 25-22, 25-13 and 25-21.
At 21-20 in the first set, the Shore netters closed out the set with a 4-2 run. Set point came on a Diehl kill.
Washington raced out to a 17-4 lead in the second set.
The third set also was closely contested, with Washington scoring three of the final four points after holding a slim 22-20 lead. Set and match point came on a Folke kill.
Washington was led by Diehl (11 kills and three blocks), Stubbs (20 assists), McKechnie (11 assists), Kleinbussin (11 digs and three blocks) and Wessel (three blocks)
Lebanon Valley defeated Rutgers-Camden in the middle match, 3-1. Set scores were 25-16, 25-13, 19-25 and 26-24.
NEXT UP: Washington travels to St. Mary’s College of Maryland on Thursday night, Sept. 25.
The next home match is Oct. 1 versus Goucher, beginning at 1 p.m.