The University of Mary Washington volleyball team dropped its opener to the University of Mount Union, but rebounded to take three straight games against fellow Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference member UC Santa Cruz after falling in the first two in splitting a pair of matches at the Gallaudet University Worthington Invitational on Saturday in Washington, D.C. The Eagles move to 3-11 on the season.

In the Mount Union match, the Eagles dropped the first set, 25-18, before rebounding to win the second, 25-18. The Purple Raiders took the next two, 25-17 and 25-21.

Junior Natalie Brown had a team-high 12 kills to go with four total blocks, with first year Mackenzie WIlliams and sophomore Alice Holoubek each adding seven kills. Senior Maura Munson posted 17 assists and 15 digs, and junior Sydney Aiken added 14 digs and six assists.

Holoubek led a strong effort at the net for the Eagles, with eight block assists, while sophomore Sarah Starling added six. 

The Eagles came back at 2 pm to face the conference foe Banana Slugs, who jumped on top with wins in the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-14. UMW bounced back to win the third, 25-18, and the fourth, 26-24, to knot the score and send the match to a pivotal fifth. The Eagles emerged victorious, 15-12, to take the hard-earned win.

Senior Avery Gallahue provided an all-around effort with eight kills, four aces, and eight blocks. Starling had nine kills, and Holoubek added seven, and Munson scored 14 assists with first year Olivia Fortier adding 13. Munson also led with seven digs.

The Eagles will be back in action on Tuesday night, as they host Eastern Mennonite University at 6:30 p.m.