Gophers Struggle Early, Finish Off Lions in Three
Rutherford Opens Second Set with Six Aces in 10-Point Run
September 23, 2008
TOWSON, Md. – Goucher struggled to win the first set of its match against Lincoln tonight, coming back from an 18-12 deficit to record a 25-22 victory. In the second set, Jennifer Rutherford (Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo-Atherton) seemed determined to make sure the Gophers finished off the Lions in three games.
Rutherford served six aces during a set-opening run of 10 points as the Gophers coasted to a 25-13 win and a 2-0 lead in sets.
With the score knotted at 8-8 in the third set, Goucher went ahead to stay on a kill by Catie Ditmore (Santa Barbara, Calif./Laguna Blanca), completing a 3-0 triumph over the Lions with a 25-21 win.
The serve was a potent weapon for the Gophers (8-10) tonight. In addition to Rutherford's six aces, Claire Sauvage-Mar (New Delhi, India/American Embassy School) was credited with five service aves in the match.
Sauvage-Mar also finished with 20 assists.