Towson, MD – Senior Sarah Balcom and freshman Emerson Coulter scored 18 kills each and senior Sarah Towles added 28 digs on the day to help the SUNY Canton women's volleyball team to a split at the Goucher Tournament in Maryland.

The Roos dropped the first match to Penn State Harrisburg (19-25, 11-25, 25-20, 20-25) before rallying to sweep host Goucher (25-23, 25-15, 25-13).

THE BASICS

• Result:  Match 1: Penn State Harrisburg 3, SUNY Canton 1 | Match 2: SUNY Canton 3, Goucher 0  
• Location: Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena – Towson, MD
• Records: SUNY Canton (3-3) | Penn State Harrisburg (5-1) | Goucher (0-5)

HOW IT HAPPENED
 
MATCH 1 - BOX SCORE

• The opening set was a back-and-forth affair with the teams tied at 12 midway through the frame.
• Penn State Harrisburg opened a 17-12 advantage and still led by five at 19-14. The Roos used a 5-1 run to get within 20-19 after a Brooke Hite kill, but the Lions scored the final five points of the set for the 25-19 win.
• Harrisburg used its momentum from the end of the first set to open a 16-5 advantage in the second stanza on their way to a 25-11 victory.
• The Roos led 14-10 midway through the third set before things were knotted up at 18 apiece. Canton rattled off five straight points that included a pair of kills from Balcom to open a 23-18 advantage on the way to winning the third 25-20.
• The Lions jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the fourth set. However, Canton hung tough using a 10-2 run to get within 16-5 following a Sammie Frank ace. Harrisburg won five of the next six points to open a 21-16 lead before four straight from the Roos got them back within 21-19. The Lions earned the final three points to win the set and match 25-20.
• Coulter led the Roos with 12 kills and nine digs, while Balcom and senior Alexas Marshall chipped in nine and seven kills, respectively. Hite added six kills and five digs. Frank supplied 34 assists and eight digs, while Towles and Makenna Cameron registered nine digs each. 

 MATCH 2 - BOX SCORE

• After an even set early on left the set tied 4-4, the Roos rattled off six of the next eight points, including a Coulter kill to lead 10-6.  The Gophers responded to draw within one on an Alex Dzhygit kill, trailing 14-13.  Another Roo run was capped by a Balcom kill, putting Canton up 22-15.  Another push by Goucher cut the Roos lead to 24-23 but Bria Hunter scored the decisive kill to give Canton the set 25-23.
• In the second set, it was the Gophers who struck early, taking a 7-4 lead.  The Roos would score nine of the next 10 points capped by a Marshall kill to take a 13-8 advantage.  A Balcom ace would put Canton up 22-14 and the Roos would close out the set 25-15.
• Four Balcom kills early in the third set saw the Roos off to a quick 12-5 start.  A Maya Miller ace drew the Gophers within four at 15-11.  But it was all Canton from there, outscoring Goucher 10-2 down the stretch for a 25-13 win and a three-game sweep.
• Balcom led the Roos with nine kills, Frank, Coulter and Marshall finished with six each.  Towles recorded 19 digs with Kiley Zicari adding eight more. 

 WHAT'S NEXT?
The Roos are back in action next Friday when they host Alfred University and VTSU Johnson at 5 and 7 p.m., respectively.    
About SUNY Canton
Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, and public service. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 23 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.