EAGLES DOMINANT EARLY, HANG ON TO BEAT LIONS OF PS HARRISBURGH

Saint Elizabeth was looking to rebound from a sound defeat at the hands of Gallaudet as they took on the Lions of PS Harrisburgh in the last match of the day for CSE.  CSE was also trying to break the longest losing streak (3 matches) of the season for the squad.

Saint Elizabeth jumped out to a 4-1 lead behind 2 aces by Amy Cooper and a Kiara Francisco kill and maintained that cushion early on as a kill by Subhana Wrights gave the Eagles an 8-5 lead. Although the Lions would close to one,  a Wrights kill and a passing error gave the Eagles control again at 10-7.  Jenae Goodson hit for an ace while Kareemah Muhammad and Katie Cooper pounded out kills to extend the lead to 17-11.   Rachel Hausler then stepped up and gave CSE an insurmountable lead at 20-11 with an ace and aided by an Ireyiah Stevens kill.  A late run by the Lions made the set look closer than it was at 25-19.

The 2^nd set saw much of the same.  CSE ran out to a 7-3 lead behind the timely hitting of Katie Cooper and continued to pressure PS Harrisburgh with the blocking and hitting of Subhana Wrights and Kiara Francisco as the Eagles extended the lead to 14-5.  The Lions crawled back to within 7 at 14-7 but a Wrights kill and 2 blocks by Ireiah Stevens and Wrights helped seal the deal as Katie Cooper pounded out 2 aces to finish the set 25-12.

The Eagles started the 3^rd set as if they wanted to leave no doubt in who was going to win the match.  Saint Elizabeth ran out to an 8-0 lead behind 2 aces by Amy Cooper and numerous Lion miscues.  Although the Eagles looked in control of the match, PS Harrisburgh slowly started to mount an offense and cut the lead down to 5 at 11-6.  After a few Eagle hitting errors and a couple of kills out of the middle, the Lions saw themselves tied at 15 late in the match.  CSE reacted though and the serving of Amy Cooper combined with the offense of Katie Cooper took the Eagles to a 22-17 lead that looked to be insurmountable.  After an Eagle service error though, the Lions ran off 5 straight points as their offense regained its rhythm while the CSE passing lost theirs.  A key block gave the Eagles match point at 24-23 but the Lions responded and tied the match at 24.  PS Harrisburgh had 2 match points be denied by an Amy Cooper kill and a passing error forced by a Katie Cooper attack before the Eagles saw their next match point at 27-26.  A key service error by the Eagles gave the ball back to Harrisburgh who capitalized on their chances and took the set 29-27.

The 4^th set proved to be more competitive early as the teams traded points and were tied at 7 early on.  The Eagles went on 6-0 run fueled by Katie Cooper and Subhana Wrights kills as well as timely digs by Rachel Hausler (13-7).  Although the Lions broke their momentum, the Eagles responded with another 9-3 run behind Jenae Goodson’s serving (2 aces) and the blocking of Subhana Wrights and Ireyiah Stevens (22-16).  Yet again, the Eagles looked poised to finish off the match but the Lions went on 7-0 run where the Eagles had 5 consecutive passing errors to take the lead at 23-22.  Saint Elizabeth fought back to tie it at 23 behind a Katie Cooper kill but an inopportune service error gave the Lions the ball and PS Harrisburgh was able to take advantage of their opportunities and closed out the set 25-23.

Typical of the 2012 season though, the Eagles seem to save their best performance for last.  Despite a disastrous loss of 2 sets to the Lions, the Eagles fought back in the 5^th and decisive set.  The teams were clicking  offensively at first and saw themselves tied 4-4.  Kills by Kareemah Muhammad and Katie Cooper gave the Eagles an edge at 8-4.  After the Lions had closed to within 1, Subhana Wrights pounded out a kill to give Saint Elizabeth an 8-6 lead at the change of sides.  The Lions climbed back into the set with timely kills to get to within 1 at 9-8 but amazing desperation digs by Katie Cooper and Rachel Hausler led to a Lion hitting error which gave the Eagles a 2 point cushion again at 10-8.  Kareemah Muhammad hit for an ace and Katie Cooper and Amy Cooper added kills around a passing error to see the Eagles crawl closer to the victory at 13-10.  Rachel Hausler’s serving put the Lions under pressure and caused a passing error which CSE did not waste as another Hausler serve yielded a free ball that Subhana Wrights put down for the 15^th point to seal the 13^th  victory of the season for the Eagles. 

The Eagles were led by Katie Cooper’s career high 21 kills and .203 hitting %.  Amy Cooper dished out 41 assists, had 3 kills and led the team with 6 aces while teammate Rachel Hausler chipped in 3 aces of her own and had a team leading 24 digs. Subhana Wrights had another double digit kill total at 11 and added 4 blocks.   

The Eagles improve to 13W-7L and are 3W-5L in the NEAC.