GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – The Ursinus Women's Volleyball team split a pair of matches in the Gwynedd Mercy Tri-Match on Saturday afternoon. The Bears swept the host Griffins (25-18, 25-21, 25-16) before dropping a 3-1 (21-25, 25-13, 21-25, 22-25)  match to Arcadia.
 
 
The Bears found themselves down 6-3 early in the first set and the Griffins extended its lead to 9-5. Ursinus battled back by winning six of the next seven points to go up 11-10 behind taking advantage of five Griffin errors. Ursinus then took five of six points after the Griffins tied the set at 11 to go up 16-12. The Bears went up 19-15 and won six of the last points to win the first set at 25-18.
 
 
Ursinus won the first five points of the second set and eventually held an 8-4 lead following kills from seniors Reena Robinson and Zoe George. However, the Griffins won seven of the next nine points to take their first lead of the set at 11-10. The Bears countered back by winning nine of the next 12 points to go back up five points at 19-14. Ursinus built their advantage to as many as six points at 23-17 before the Griffins won four straight points with a late charge that made it 23-21. Out of a timeout, senior Lexi Couch ended the threat with back-to-back kills.
 
 
Each team won three straight points to open the third set, but it was the Bears that responded with five straight points to go up 8-3. The Bears went up 10-4 before the Griffins won six of the next eight points to get within two at 12-10. Ursinus maintained their advantage despite the run and did not allow the Griffins to get no closer than two points the rest of the way. The Bears took full control of the set after winning six of seven points to go up 21-14 after holding a 15-13 lead. Ursinus closed out the set and match by taking four of the last six points.
 
 
Couch had a team-high 11 kills on a .529 hitting percentage while senior Mel Eglinton led the Bears with 14 digs while adding seven kills. Senior Erin Dychdala paced the Bears offense with 19 assists.
 
 
Against the Knights, each team used a run of four straight points after Arcadia took the opening point that left The Knights up 5-4. Ursinus won five of the next six points to go up 9-6 and held a 13-11 advantage after Arcadia tied the set at nine. The Knights won six straight points to go up 17-13 before the Bears closed back in to get withing one point at 18-17. Ursinus tied the set at 20, but the Knights won five of the next six points to win the first set.
 
The Bears gained an early 5-2 lead in the second set and maintained their advantage out to 10-7. Arcadia got within one point at 11-10 before the Bears took control of the set by winning 11 of the next 12 points to go up 22-11. Ursinus closed out the set by taking three of next five points.
 
 
After Arcadia rallied to win the third set 25-21, Ursinus gained an early 6-2 lead in the fourth set. Arcadia got within 7-6 before the Bears worked their lead to 10-8. The Knights won five straight points to go up 13-10, but the Bears fought back to win six of the next eight points to take a 16-15 lead. Arcadia answered to go up 18-17 before Ursinus swung back to go up 19-18. The back-and-forth battle continued and a kill from junior Alonna McCummings put Ursinus up 22-21. However, Arcadia won the last four points.
 
 
Eglinton led the Bears with 13 kills while junior Dakota Kates paced the Bears with 12 digs. Dychdala matched her career high in assists that was originally set on Thursday with 27 in addition to adding four kills. Couch had nine kills against the Knights on a .353 hitting percentage.
 
 
The Bears return to action on Tuesday, September 30^th as they will host Swarthmore at 7:00 p.m. for their Centennial Conference opener.