GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Guilford College volleyball team dropped a pair of contests to Bridgewater College and Eastern Mennonite University as it hosted them for the ODAC Quad on Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS

• Scores:

  • Game 1: 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 26-24)

  • Game 2: 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-16)

• Records: Guilford College (5-14, 2-6 ODAC), Bridgewater College (11-8, 6-3 ODAC), Eastern Mennonite University (9-7, 7-2 ODAC)

• Location: Jack Jensen Court - Greensboro, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 1 

Set one started in favor of Bridgewater, as the visitor was able to open a 9-4 lead in the early going, helped along by a 3-0 start, to force a Guilford timeout. Following the time to recollect, the pair traded points, but more in favor as they continued to lead 14-6 to force another timeout by the hosts. The Quakers' looked to breathe life into their game when Vanessa Johnson went up for a big block solo to make it 17-12, but too little too late. The Eagles claimed the set 25-15.

The second frame was less competitive, as BC was able to open a 6-0 lead and never look back. GC made the visitors work for its point as the score went 11-2 in their favor with a long rally, forcing a Guilford timeout. Pitching a comeback attempt, Guilford worked back within seven (16-9). BC claims the set 25-13.

Off to a different tone, Guilford opened a 4-0 lead to kick off the third stanza on a trio of Bridgewater errors and a Adison Needham kill. GC saw its lead disappear as BC posted six-straight points, halted by a service error. The remainder of the contest was incredibly competitive, seeing the score knotted many times. The Quakers even began to lead and forced an Eagles' timeout as Kaitlyn Kelley and Devyn Norman went up for a big block to make the score 15-14.Guilford led late into the contest, as the pair traded blows, with the last tie at 24-24. Bridgewater claimed the contest 26-24 on a Grace Hayes kill.

HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 2

The second game of the day carried the momentum from the final set of game one, as Guilford was able to open a quick 5-1 lead with the fifth point coming on a Maddi Page sneak attack on the set. GC was able to continue to grow its lead to 9-3 on a Sydney Hopewell service ace, before allowing EMU to pitch a comeback, 10-8, but it was not enough. Guilford was able to force two timeouts. The second Royals' timeout came after a huge Johnson kill and Hopewell service ace. The hosts continued to lead as Hopewell posted an unassisted kill to make it 23-20. EMU came back for a 24-23 lead to force a pair of GC timeouts before winning the set 25-23.

Set two opened with a Norman kill, before an service error by the freshman tied the game 1-1, a preview of what was to come. The stanza was tied often, but the visitors were able to get a 13-11 lead to force a Guilford timeout. GC battled it out to an 18-18 tie off a Cydney Scott kill, forcing a timeout on a Lydia Saunders service ace. The pair each used timeouts in the late goings, with EMU calling the last one at 23-22 after a pair of Hopewell service aces. GC posted the final two points of the set on kills from Scott and Johnson, 25-23, automatically forcing a fourth set. 

Set 3 was just as competitive as Guilford was able to dig itself out of an early deficit, thanks in part to Norman. Guilford forced a Eastern Mennonite timeout as it led 9-7 on another Hopewell service ace. GC used a timeout of its own as the visitors battled back to a 15-15 tie, and again as EMU went up 22-21 on a block. The final points of the set were super competitive, won on long volleys. The Royals claimed the third set 25-23.

The fourth and final set was all EMU as they opened an easy 7-2 lead to force a Guilford timeout. Another GC timeout was called as EMU was up 13-5. At the same time, the GC coach was given a yellow card. Following the time to reset, Guilford made its opposition fight for its points, with several exciting volleys. The Quakers forced a Royals' timeout at 24-15 after they posted four-straight points. After prolonging the end of the contest for several rallies, Guilford saw the contest end 25-16 on an attack error. 

QUAKERS' TOP PERFORMERS

• Cydney Scott led her squad offensively through the contests, collecting a team-best 16 kills, 13 from the second game of the day. 

• Kaitlyn Kelley also proved to be an offensive force, gathering 14 kills, 11 from the second match. Kelley also had two block assists in the first game.

• Middle blocker Vanessa Johnson finished the day with 13 kills, two digs and two blocks (1 solo, 1 assisted). 

• Rookie Maddi Page led her squad in assists with a tally of 46, 33 of which game in game two. Page also added two service aces and 18 digs. 

• Strong behind the line, Sydney Hopewell had eight service aces, seven from the second contest.

• Freshman Devyn Norman had four service aces in the second contest, to add to her five kills and two block assists on the day.

NEXT GAME

The Quakers remain at home as they are set to host the Maroons of Roanoke College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.