WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Shenandoah University women's volleyball team opened play Friday afternoon at the 2011 Worthington Classic hosted by Gallaudet University by splitting a pair of matches.
Shenandoah (11-9) was a 3-0 winner over Salem in the nightcap after opening the day with a 3-1 loss to Allegheny (Pa.).
The Hornets needed just 60 minutes to polish off the Spirits (2-15) in that second match, winning 25-15, 27-25, 25-18.
Sophomore Haley Smith paced SU offensively with six kills while Mary Harshman and Rachel Maki both added five.
Brooke Strathy had 10 digs and Kelcy Brown 16 assists to round out the Shenandoah attack.
Against Allegheny, the Gators won the opening set at 15 before SU returned the favor with a victory at 14 in the second.
Allegheny then clinched the match by outlasting the Hornets 25-22 and 25-23 in sets three and four.
Smith and senior Megan Gillispie shared match-high honors with 13 kills each. Gillispie also had a match-high 22 digs.
Harshman had 20 digs and Emily Jones 15 to back up Gillispie.
Strathy had 32 assists and Brown 18 to help fuel the offense.
The team completes play on Saturday with a noon match against Gallaudet before playing in a championship round match against a team to be determined.
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