BALTIMORE, Maryland - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's volleyball team dropped both matches on day two of the John's Hopkins Greg "Gio" Giovanazzi Memorial Tournament on Saturday afternoon in Baltimore, MD. The Marlins took both the Panthers of Birmingham-Southern College and the No. 2 Blue Jays of John's Hopkins University to five sets each.

GAME ONE INFORMATION
Score: Birmingham-Southern 3 - Virginia Wesleyan 2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-17, 15-8)
Records: Virginia Wesleyan 6-2  | Birmingham-Southern 5-3
Location: Goldfarb Gymnasium | Baltimore, MD

MATCH RECAP
After trading point throughout the early part of set one, the Marlins took a four-point lead, 10-6, over the Panthers. BSC came back on a 9-5 run to knot the score at 15 all, but VWU reclaimed a four-point lead, 22-18, and held off the rallying Panthers to win set one 25-22. 

BSC opened set two taking a 7-4 lead, however, the Marlins responded with a 7-3 run of their own to claim an 11-10 lead. The Marlins continued to grow their lead to three, 17-14, and six points, 21-15, an ultimately closed out the set with a 25-23 lead, despite the Panthers tying the score at 23 all late in the set. 

The Panthers came back in set three with vengeance opening with a 10-1 rally. The Marlins closed the gap to eight points, 16-8, but BSC continued to control the set to win the third frame 25-16. 

Set four started similarly to the third with BSC opening with an 8-1 run. VWU stayed within six points through much of the set, 14-8, 16-10, 20-14, but the Panthers held off the Marlins to take the fourth set 25-17 and tie the match score at two sets each. 

The two squads were pretty neck and neck through the first 14 serves sitting knotted at seven points each. Birmingham-Southern turned on the burners and closed out the set on an 8-2 run winning 15-9 and taking the match three sets to two. 

• Sydney Collins led the Marlin attack with 14 kills while Jenna Waters was close behind with 11 and Morgan Ludovici added 10 of her own. 
• Haley Sutton and Alexis Davies-Hackenberg split the majority of the assists with Sutton recording 22 and Davies-Hackenberg put up 17.
• The back line was bolstered by Isabelle Gaudet, Ludovici, and Grace Sweers with 29, 24, and 16 digs respectively. 

GAME TWO INFORMATION
Score: No. 2 John's Hopkins 3 - Virginia Wesleyan 2 (25-12, 13-25, 17-25, 25-16, 23-21)
Records: Virginia Wesleyan 6-3  | No. 2 John's Hopkins 5-0
Location: Goldfarb Gymnasium | Baltimore, MD

MATCH RECAP *a full play-by-play was not available
The Blue Jays controlled the first set winning 25-12 over the Marlins. Virginia Wesleyan countered in sets two and three taking those over John's Hopkins 25-13 and 25-17 respectively. JHU came back in set four to win 25-16 and forcing a fifth set. Neither team was willing to back down in the fifth and final set and after trading the lead back and forth through the later points, the Blue Jays came out on top winning 23-21. 

• Morgan Ludovici (13), Jenna Waters (13), and Sydney Collins (11) again led the Marlins attack in the match against John's Hopkins with a total of 37 kills between the three. 
• Abigail Mahoney was a force at the net putting down seven blocks while Kathryn Yeager and Sydney Collins each added six.
• Haley Sutton and Alexis Davies-Hackenberg again led in assists with 21 and 14 respectively. 
• Waters, Isabelle Gaudet, and Ludovici anchored the back line with 19, 17, and 14 digs.

UP NEXT
Virginia Wesleyan returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 15, when they travel up to Maryland to take on the Seahawks from Saint Mary's College of Maryland. First serve is set for 7 PM.