Goucher Wins In Close 5 Set Contest
September 6, 2025
BALTIMORE, MD.- Goucher wins the second game in their home tri-match versus Saint Elizabeth University Eagles. The Gophers come out victorious after a close five sets 3-2.
Saint Elizabeth comes out strong with a six-point scoring run that was ended by AaShyah De Vries with a spike. Goucher fights back with two consecutive kills from Alex Dzhygit and Liv DeBiasio to shorten the scoring deficit 7-3. The Eagles take control until Kelsi Hockaday's solo block shifts some momentum for the Gophers. Goucher gains some points from Saint Elizabeth's errors, taking the score to 17-10. Lucille Hendricks had two spikes near the end of the set to fight back for the Gophers, ultimately falling short. The Eagles take the first set 25-18.
Saint Elizabeth starts the set with a five-point run momentum. Goucher fights back with a service ace from Athena Savick and a spike from Dzhygit, helping get Goucher on the board. A few errors and a spike by Imani Ward help shorten the scoring gap. The Gophers capitalize on a few mistakes from the Eagles to take the lead, and kills from Hendricks and Hockaday propel Goucher's lead to 21-19. DeBiasio has the final spike of the set, helping the Gophers win the set 25-23.
The Eagles take an early 6-3 lead to start the third set. Dzhygit and Ward score from a spike to help the Gophers try to take the lead. A few errors by the Eagles push the Gophers into a double-digit score, only six points behind the 16-10. Madi Kraemer and Hendricks' service aces add to the Gopher tally. Saint Elizabeth maintained their lead throughout the set, winning 25-20.
Goucher starts the fourth set down one set and needing to win to extend the game into the fifth set. Saint Elizabeth scores the first three points, but their run is stopped by a spike from DeBiasio. The Eagles pull forward, but the Gophers fight back with a kill from Ward to tie the score 8-8. A five-point run aided by two kills from Ward extended the Gopher lead 21-15. Eagles try to fight back, but a few errors lead to Goucher ahead 24-16. Kraemer ends the set with a service ace, helping the Gophers win the set 25-16.
The Gophers manage to push the game into the fifth set. Both teams come out with a lot of intensity, tying the score 3-3 early. Eagles pull out the lead with consecutive scoring that Hendricks puts a stop to with a kill. The set was tight with both teams pulling ahead. Saint Elizabeth takes the lead 11-8. Three spikes from Hendricks put the Gophers ahead, taking the 13-11. With only two more points to go for the Gophers to win, the Eagles take control back 14-13. DeBiasio's service ace and error from the Eagles hitter leads to a Gopher win of the set 16-14.
Athena Savick, DeBiasio, and Hendricks tied in leading digs for Goucher with 18 each of the 101. Gophers had four solo blocks and 12 service aces. Kraemer and Savick led in service aces with three each. Hendricks led in kills with 11, followed closely by Ward with 10 of the team's 37.
Goucher will be at home on September 10 at 7pm. They will be hosting Washington Adventist.
