Daytona Beach, Fla. ? Down two sets to one and just two points away from its seventh consecutive loss, the Stetson volleyball team (2-9) dug deep and reeled off a 7-0 run to win the fourth set in Tuesday night's match at Volusia County rival Bethune-Cookman; the Hatters went on to claim the fifth set 15-12 and the match 25-21, 23-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12. Freshman setter Jennica Hagberg (Niceville, Fla.) had 38 assists and a career-high 12 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
When Bethune-Cookman's Talisha Black recorded a kill to put her team ahead 23-18 in the fourth set, it certainly appeared as if the Wildcats were about to beat Stetson for only the fourth time in 45 all-time meetings. However, the Hatters pulled off an improbable rally as Hagberg served seven straight points, including an ace. Freshman middle blocker Sam Freeman (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) had the only kill during that run and combined with junior right side Sarah Sears (Ashburn, Va.) on the block that locked up the 25-23 win.
B-CU jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the deciding fifth set and led 8-5 before Stetson chopped its way back into the match, scoring six of the next seven points to take the lead for good. An ace by freshman Sam Stonish (Stony Brook, N.Y.) put the Hatters ahead and classmate Kaylee Ream (Venice, Fla.) finished it off with a kill.
Senior outside hitter Rebecca Orzechowicz (Miami, Fla.) led the Hatters with 10 kills, adding nine digs and hitting .214 in the process. Junior middle blocker Laura Boyd (La Crescenta, Calif.) had eight kills while Freeman and Ream tallied seven each. Freeman hit .375 in the match. Senior libero Melanie Boyer (New Holland, Ill.) recorded 13 digs and sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Canfield (Panama City, Fla.) notched 12 of her own.
Chelle Ticeson led three Wildcats in double figures with 18 kills while Julie Gibson handed out 47 assists and Shakhea Moore-Hagins came up with 22 digs. Danielle Goodrum (15 kills, 15 digs) enjoyed a double-double performance.
The win was Stetson's first away from home this season and its fifth straight against the Wildcats. The Hatters return to the Edmunds Center for a pair of Atlantic Sun conference matches this weekend. Stetson faces ETSU at 6 p.m. Friday and USC Upstate at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Live stats and Bill Topping's Hatter Vision webcast will be available for both matches at www.GoHatters.com, the official online home of Stetson Athletics.
