Lady AMCATS Win Thrilling 5-Set Match over Gordon College

WENHAM, Mass. – Anna Maria scores a five game victory over Gordon College on Saturday afternoon in non-conference play. The Scots took an early 2-1 advantage in the match, but the AMCATS battled back from the deficit to shock Gordon on Homecoming weekend.

 
The opening set favored Anna Maria, as the AMCATS got out to an early lead and never relinquished control.
 
The AMCATS separated themselves from the Scots early with a 3 point run giving them an 8-2 lead, a gap the Scots could not overcome for the entirety of the set. Anna Maria cruised to the 25-16 win.
 
The second set was a different story for Gordon. A service ace from freshman Maggie Risma (Hudson, Ohio) gave the Fighting Scots their first lead of the match at 6-5. Two more aces quickly followed that from Risma and another ace from junior Krystal Vander Ark (Santa Barabara, Calif.), giving Gordon a 10-6 lead.
 
The game tightened after Anna Maria rallied to within one point and the two squads traded points deep into the game. The AMCATS finally broke through with a string of 5 points that ultimately tied the set score of 24 a side. Gordon wrapped up the second set effectively with a smashing attack from freshman Jenna Labbadia (Berlin, Conn.) followed by a deceptive mid-court drop from senior Lauren Kranyak (Locust Grove, Va.).The Scots eked out a 29-27 win to tie the match at one.
 
The Gordon ladies carried their late-game chemistry into the third set, opening with a seven-point run. The Scots would not surrender the lead and took control of the match with a 25-17 win in the third frame.
 
Anna Maria responded to the 2-1 deficit with a commanding win of their own, establishing the lead mid-game with a run of six points, making the score 18-11. The AMCATS would take the set 25-19, forcing a fifth-set showdown.
 
Anna Maria jumped to an early lead in the condensed 15-point set, before Gordon fought back behind an impressive serving display from Risma, tying the game at 13. After a Gordon timeout, Risma committed a service error, surrendering the ball to Anna Maria before the AMCATS wrapped up the set on the next point—winning by the narrowest of margins, 15-13, to clinch the match.
 
Gordon dropped their fourth fifth-set match of the season and drops to 6-9 on the season. Anna Maria gets about .500 on the year, improving to 7-6 overall.  
 
The Fighting Scots have another home match on Tuesday when conference foe Salve Regina comes to Wenham. Gordon will look to get their first conference win of the season against the visiting Seahawks at 7:00 p.m.