On Oct. 2, Muhlenberg’s volleyball team went to Swarthmore College for their first Centennial Conference (CC) game of the season. The five-set match was electrifying, and the Mules played hard until the very end, when they eventually lost 3-2.
The Mules were right on Swarthmore’s tail the whole match, and started to gain on them with each set. The opening set was a matter of Muhlenberg finding their rhythm, and the Garnet snagged the win, 25-17. This was only a slight setback for the Mules, and they went into the second set with a hunger to win. Both teams played viciously, trading points and forcing an overtime where Muhlenberg’s opponent took the bout, 28-26.
In the third set, the Mules fell behind, but in true Muhlenberg fashion, they went on a 13-4 run that included three incredible kills from Kelliann Keogh ‘27. The senior was a beast, especially in this set, totaling five of her 10 kills in that one and getting the winning point. With this third set won by the Mules 25-20, they knew the fourth set was a must-win.
The Mules took the momentum from the last set and ensured the lead throughout the fourth set. This set had a mixed bag of leading players, with the kills spread throughout the lineup. Andrea Romero-Agosto ‘29 played hard with five kills, while Lizzie Steinkamp ‘30 and Abigail Oswari ‘28 had four apiece. Steinkamp also ended with one ace.
Muhlenberg masterfully kept the Garnets at bay and won the fourth set, 25-21. After a thrilling comeback, the Mules forced Swarthmore into a fifth set where the winner of the conference game would be decided. This set, just like the entire match, was close, but Muhlenberg ultimately fell to their opponents, 11-15. Head Coach Rob McVicker commented on this being the first conference game of the season and how the team handled it: “Our team rose to the occasion during a bigger game where pressure was higher, and we handled the pressure very well.”
This match is still one to be proud of, due to the hard work and drive of the players. They had a strong fourth set, totaling 18 putaways as a team on a .308 hitting percentage. Oswari played exceptionally, leading in kills for the match with 17, while Steinkamp had an impressive game and was the third Mule in double figures with 11 kills. Romero-Agosto was one away from joining them with nine.
Jenny Ryan ‘27 had a large hand in the game and nearly all of those kills, as she racked up 31 assists, which is two off of her season high of 33. Chloe Gaglione ‘27 matched that number with digs and was one of four players in double digits in that category, alongside Oswari, Ryan and Bailey Crampton ‘29. Those 31 digs are a career high for Gaglione, beating her previous best of 19 last season. The Mules still have improvements to make; McVicker says that they are “still working on becoming a really good serving team.” The game was extremely exciting, and even though they lost, it will only be used as fuel for their future matches.
Though the Mules didn’t pull out the win, they came away with 63 kills, beating Swarthmore’s total of 58. The Mules have great chemistry, and their total of 59 assists is one of the ways they prove it. They also worked hard at subduing Swarthmore when they gained momentum. McVicker said, “Our team has been working extremely hard trying to control our side of the court. We emphasized defense this week, and it showed during the match.”
Muhlenberg faces Haverford on Oct. 7 for their next match in conference season. After that, the Mules play at Memorial Hall against Washington College on Oct. 10.
Hope '28 is an English and Creative Writing major. She has always had a passion for writing, but specifically loves writing for sports. Otherwise, she works in Alumni Relations and as a Barista at Jay's Local!