WINCHESTER, Va. - The Stevenson women's volleyball team earned a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Shenandoah on Wednesday evening at the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center, winning by set scores of 21–25, 25–23, 19–25, 30–28, and 15–8. The Mustangs battled back from a pair of set deficits, capturing a thrilling fourth set before dominating the decisive fifth set to secure the non-conference victory. Stevenson improved to 11–9 overall and 3–1 in MAC Commonwealth play.
Set 1: Stevenson and Shenandoah traded points early in the opening set, with the Mustangs using kills from Sydney Salazar, Rachel Lenz, and Logan Burge to keep the score close. The teams continued to exchange points before Shenandoah pulled ahead late, building a 19–15 advantage.
Stevenson responded with kills from Maren Zepfel and Burge to cut into the deficit, while Lenz and Declyn Tooze helped the Mustangs continue their push. Stevenson pulled within 23–21, but Shenandoah held on to close out the opening set, 25–21.
Set 2: The Mustangs responded in the second set, overcoming a tightly contested opening stretch to build momentum. After the teams traded points early, Stevenson used a strong run highlighted by kills from Lenz, Zepfel, and Emma Shaffer to establish a 9–4 advantage.
Shenandoah worked its way back into the set, eventually tying the score at 16–16 before taking a brief lead. Stevenson answered with kills from Lillianna Hornickle and Salazar to regain control. With the set tied at 21–21, the Mustangs scored three of the next four points, including a Shaffer kill and a Lenz kill, to move within one point of the set. Salazar delivered the final kill as Stevenson claimed a 25–23 victory to even the match at 1–1.
Set 3: Shenandoah gained control in the third set, building an early advantage and using a strong offensive stretch to move ahead 11–7. Stevenson continued to fight, with kills from Zepfel, Salazar, and Shaffer helping the Mustangs stay within reach.
The Mustangs cut the deficit to 16–13 following consecutive Shenandoah errors, but the Hornets responded by extending their lead. Lenz and Zepfel added late kills as Stevenson attempted to close the gap, but Shenandoah held on to take the set, 25–19, and regain the match lead.
Set 4: Facing a one-set deficit, Stevenson delivered its strongest offensive set of the match, recording 19 kills while hitting .310. The teams traded points throughout the set, with the Mustangs using kills from Lenz, Zepfel, Burge, and Shaffer to remain within striking distance.
Shenandoah appeared poised to close out the match after building a 23–19 advantage, but Stevenson mounted a late comeback. Shaffer recorded a kill before adding a service ace, while a Shenandoah attack error and a Salazar kill helped the Mustangs score four consecutive points to take a 24–23 lead.
The teams continued to trade points beyond the 25-point mark, with Lenz delivering key kills and Burge adding a kill to keep Stevenson in contention. After Shenandoah took a 28–27 lead, the Mustangs responded with a Lenz kill to even the score at 28–28. Lenz followed with a service ace before a Shenandoah attack error sealed the 30–28 victory, forcing a decisive fifth set.
Set 5: Stevenson carried its momentum into the final set, quickly establishing control. After Shenandoah opened the scoring, Lenz answered with a kill before Shaffer helped spark a decisive run. The Mustangs capitalized on Shenandoah attack errors and received a key block from Salazar and Hornickle to build an 8–2 advantage.
Stevenson continued to apply pressure, with Lenz recording multiple kills and Burge adding another to extend the lead to 13–6. Lenz then delivered a service ace to put the Mustangs within one point of victory. Zepfel finished the match with a kill, completing a dominant 15–8 fifth-set performance and securing the 3–2 win.
Lenz led the Mustangs offensively with 25 kills while hitting .396, adding 11 digs and four service aces. Zepfel contributed 13 kills and two block assists, while Salazar finished with 11 kills and three block assists. Burge added eight kills and five total blocks, while Shaffer recorded six kills and 16 digs. Hornickle contributed three block assists.
Tooze directed the Stevenson offense with 22 assists, while Courtney Foose added 30 assists. Defensively, Isabella Terra led the Mustangs with 12 digs, while Lenz and Lilly Eichelberger each recorded 11 digs. Shaffer added 16 digs, and Stevenson finished with 66 kills, a .255 hitting percentage, seven service aces, 67 digs, and six total team blocks.
Stevenson returns to action on Wednesday, October 21, hosting Hood at 7 p.m. for MAC Commonwealth action at Owings Mills Gymnasium. The Mustangs will celebrate their Dig Pink Match while continuing conference play.
