The Chowan University volleyball team fought back from a two-set deficit to defeat West Virginia Wesleyan 3-2 on Friday evening in the Hawks' season opening contest.   The Hawks dropped the first and second sets by scores of 25-23 and 25-21, respectively, but recovered to grab victories in the next three sets.  Chowan topped the Bobcats 25-21 in set three and 25-14 in set four before hanging on for a 15-12 victory in the deciding set. 

Suraya Chase led the effort for the Hawks with 19 kills in the win while freshman Ashley Tutherow collected 18 kills for the Chowan Blue and White.  Cindy Ehrich hauled in 15 digs.  Stacie Baumann and Hannah King each tallied 11 kills for the Bobcats in the setback. 

The first set was closely contested, with neither team holding control until late in the contest.  With the score tied 19-19, the Bobcats used a 4-0 run capped by a kill by Hannah Moore to pull away 23-19.  A kill by Brianna Smith followed by two Bobcat errors and a service ace by Alyssa Born made the score tied 23-23 and put the Hawks back within reach.  West Virginia Wesleyan responded with back-to-back kills by King and Baumann to grab the victory in the first set. 

The Hawks and Bobcats battled again through set two.  With the score tied 17-17, two Chowan attack errors shifted the momentum in favor of West Virginia Wesleyan.  The Hawks trailed for the remainder of the set and a kill by Sarah Crowder and an attack error by the Hawks handed the Bobcats the 25-21 win. 

The third set was another battle for momentum.  Late in the set with the score tied 16-16, an attack error by the Bobcats followed by two kills from Chase gave Chowan a 19-16 lead.  The score was tied once more (20-20) before two West Virginia Wesleyan errors and Lindsey Denne's service ace gave the Hawks the 23-20 advantage.  King's kill for the Bobcats made the score 23-21 but an error by West Virginia Wesleyan on the next play and a kill by Caitlin Pascal secured the 25-21 win for the Chowan Blue and White. 

Chowan overcame an early deficit in set four before stealing the momentum as the contest progressed.  With the score tied 11-11, the Hawks took advantage of a 14-3 run highlighted by five straight points off of Becca Page's serves to grab the 25-14 victory in set four. 

The fifth set was all about the Hawks as Chowan quickly jumped to a 7-0 lead behind Denne's serves.  The Hawks maintained the lead through the remainder of the contest and clinched the 15-12 win off of a kill by Chase.

Chowan will take on Shepherd University and Fairmont State University on Saturday in the Hawks' final matches as part of  the Winston-Salem State Spike-Out Hunger Challenge. 

For more Chowan Athletic News visit www.gocuhawks.com.