BALTIMORE, MD – Johns Hopkins junior
Annika Anderson reached a career milestone Saturday afternoon, recording her 1,000th career assist as the Blue Jays swept Salisbury, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-20), inside Goldfarb Gymnasium. With the victory, Hopkins improves to 12-7 overall, while Anderson becomes the 12th player in program history to reach 1,000 career assists.
Anderson's milestone highlighted a strong all-around performance from the Blue Jays to secure the straight-set victory. Hopkins found its rhythm late in the opening set, using a three-point run sparked by a
Bethany Sherwood kill to take control. After Salisbury threatened to close the gap, the Blue Jays responded emphatically, scoring the final five points of the frame.
Ivy Swafford capped the run with one of her match-high 17 kills to give Hopkins a 25-18 win.
The Blue Jays carried that momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 4-0 lead behind a
Jocelyn Pye service ace. A block by Sherwood and
Emma Wang helped extend the advantage to 10-3, and Hopkins continued to apply pressure as
Ella Wismer sparked a five-point run with a kill. Salisbury mounted a late rally to pull within three, but the Blue Jays maintained their composure to close out the set, 25-20, with a kill from Pye.
Salisbury made one final push in the third, battling Hopkins through a tightly contested frame. After Wismer's kill gave the Blue Jays a 16-12 advantage, the Sea Gulls rallied to even the score at 16. The teams traded points down the stretch before Hopkins turned a 20-20 tie into a match-clinching finish, scoring the final five points to complete the sweep. Swafford once again delivered the decisive kill, sealing the 25-20 victory.
Swafford led all players with 17 kills, while Sherwood added six kills on a .545 hitting percentage and paced Hopkins with four blocks. Anderson directed the offense with a match-high 18 assists, reaching the 1,000-assist milestone along the way.
Nicole Tuszynski anchored the defense with 11 digs, helping the Blue Jays limit Salisbury to three sets.
Hopkins returns to action Wednesday, October 28, traveling across the Bay Bridge to face Washington College in Centennial Conference play. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Penny J. Hall Gym in Chestertown.
