Rams Win 1st of Four Home Games This Week

September 23rd

Tuesday, Shepherd Volleyball hosted Shippensburg University in a match at the Butcher Center. Shepherd won 3-0, though, not easily. The teams were good competition for each other.

Shepherd started out down in the first set 11-5, but back to back blocks from KJ Motheral, a kill from Val Bour, followed by a four serve streak from Bour as well picked Shepherd back up. With Shippensburg's lead diminishing, Taylor Allen, Motheral, and Bour played aggressive offense, bringing us up 21-20. Katie Beecher also contributed a kill. At 23-22, Shippensburg called a time out, after which Kayliegh Helgesen furthered the Ram's lead by using Shippensburg's block to her own advantage, tallying one more kill. Taylor Allen finished this close set off with a kill, leaving the score at 25-22, Rams.

The second set started off with a serving streak from Sam Scroggins, including one ace. The first kill of this set actually went to setter Taylor Belella, who crushed the ball defending the net after an overpass from Shippensburg. Helgesen continued to take advantage of the opposing block and Bour added a kill, making the score 6-1, Rams. Shippensburg called their first time out. Following the time out, Shepherd came out even more aggressive, with a kill from Motheral, two blocks and a kill from Helgesen, and a beautiful kill from the back row for Bour. With the score 8-4, some errors on Shepherd's side and strong plays from Shippensburg turned the momentum of the game for a bit, but two aces from Allen brought the Rams back ahead at 11-8. Later, Bour served three in a row to go up 18-15. Lauren Wilkins added another ace for the Rams. A kill from Allen, kill from Helgesen, and three errors on Shippensburg's side gave Shepherd their last five points, and the set ended at 25-21, Rams.

The score of the third set stayed tied or nearly tied for some time (1-1, 3-3, 5-5, 7-7), neither team really taking a lead for a while. During those first few points, Motheral and Bour put up a double block and Helgesen added another kill off the opponent's block. Scroggins served to bring us ahead 11-8; Shippensburg took a time out. Motheral and Bour continued to control the net, both adding two kills out of the time out. Bour tallied another ace for the Rams to bring the score up to 16-11. Middle hitter Motheral added another kill for the side out at 17-12. After losing the serve, other middle hitter Katie Beecher followed up with a kill for the side out at 18-13. Two aces from Kelsey Anderson for our 19th point drove Shippensburg to call another time out. A couple of good errors and good blocks from Shippensburg stumped the Rams for a minute, but Beecher brought us out of the minor slump with a kill for 21-6. Taylor Allen laid out for a nearly impossible save ("pancake"), and Valerie Bour finished off the play with a strong kill, bringing the score to 23-17. Bour also scored the 24th point for the Rams with a tricky tip just over the blockers. The game ended on an error from Shippensburg; score 25-18, Rams again.

With this victory, Shepherd is 7-4 this season and 2-0 in the MEC. There were three other home games later that week.

Rams play again Tuesday, September 30th at 7 PM.