CARLISLE, PA – The Johns Hopkins volleyball team's recent run continued Friday evening at the Kline Center, as the Blue Jays powered past Dickinson, 3-1 (25-12, 23-25, 25-19, 25-22), to earn their sixth consecutive victory. Hopkins improves to 9-5 overall and remains unbeaten in Centennial Conference play at 2-0.
The Blue Jays set the tone early, using a balanced attack and steady play at the net to take control of the opening set. After Dickinson closed within four points, Hopkins answered with a six-point run to build an 18-8 advantage and never looked back. The Blue Jays closed the frame on a
Nicole Tuszynski service ace and a Dickinson attack error to take a 1-0 lead.
Ivy Swafford continued to make her presence felt throughout the match, leading all players with 18 kills. She opened the second set with back-to-back kills as Hopkins jumped out to an early lead, but Dickinson answered with a sustained push of its own. The Red Devils eventually took an 18-17 advantage and held off a late Hopkins rally to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-23 win.
Rather than let the momentum shift linger, the Blue Jays responded immediately. Hopkins raced to an 8-3 lead in the third set and continued to apply pressure from the service line and at the net. A
Josephine Kinlan ace helped push the advantage to 16-8, and while Dickinson mounted a late rally, the Blue Jays maintained their composure.
Ella Wismer finished the set with a kill inside the baseline, giving Hopkins a 25-19 win and a 2-1 match lead.
The fourth set proved to be the tightest of the night, with neither team able to create more than a two-point cushion through the early stages. Dickinson eventually grabbed a 14-11 lead, but Hopkins responded with four straight points, including a pair of aces from Sa
mi Hockers, to reclaim the advantage.
From there, the Blue Jays leaned on their defense and play at the net to keep Dickinson at bay. A Kinlan/Wismer block helped Hopkins establish a 21-17 lead, and although the Red Devils cut the deficit to one late, Swafford put the match away with back-to-back kills to secure the 25-22 set victory and Hopkins' sixth straight win.
Swafford led the Blue Jays with 18 kills, while
Annika Anderson directed the Hopkins offense with a match-high 22 assists.
Emma Wang,
Bethany Sherwood and Wismer each contributed four blocks, helping Hopkins limit Dickinson to a .016 hitting percentage.
The Blue Jays return to action Saturday, October 10, when they host Ursinus for their annual Dig Pink match in Centennial Conference play. First serve is set for 1 p.m. inside Goldfarb Gymnasium.
