S.Orange, NJ - Going into the last date of spring competition, the Golden Lions were set to participate in a six-team tournament at Seton Hall’s Walsh Gym. Other teams besides the hosts included Rutgers, Fairfield, Fairleigh Dickinson, Stony Brook and Dowling as the lone Division II representative. The Golden Lions would finish the day tied for the best record at 7-1 with the hosts, Seton Hall.
Dowling opened up the morning against Big East competitor Rutgers University and made quick work of the Scarlet Knights to the tune of a 25-15, 25-15 win. Maja Potpara and Monika Kasperek led the offense with 8 and 10 kills respectively while combining for 3 blocks each.
Next up were the Pirates of Seton Hall, another team from the Big East Conference. This match ended up being a split as the Golden Lions dropped the first game 23-25 and then went on to win the next 25-23. The host’s big block in the middle thwarted Dowling’s middle attack but opened up the outside with Bethany Shepard racking up 8 kills in the two games.
After the lunch break, the Golden Lions faced off against Fairleigh Dickinson, which swept its two earlier matches. Dowling came out of the gates red hot and stunned the Knights 25-13, 25-23 behind solid defense and blocking. Megan Futch racked up 10 digs while anchoring the Golden Lion’s defensive effort. The Knights only loss on the day was to the Golden Lions.
Last up for the day was Stony Brook, a familiar nemesis who the Golden Lion’s have split with the two other times that they have met this spring. In the opening game, a marathon ensued, with the final tally 31-29 in Dowling’s favor. The next game had a 25-21 score, tilting the season series against the Seawolves in Dowling’s favor.