Campus News
September 9th, 2025
Lady Lakers split opening net tri-match
GC sweeps Anne Arundel, falls to Region 20 power Hagerstown
Hagerstown, MD – Garrett College opened its women's volleyball season by splitting a tri-match with a pair of opponents who already had eight matches under their collective belts.
GC swept Anne Arundel Community College (2-3 overall, 1-2 league) and got swept by host Hagerstown Community College (5-2, 3-0). Garrett head coach Brittany Jackson was simply happy to have her team finally facing live action.
"We did well for our first time out this season – but with a lot of room for improvement," said Jackson. "It'll be exciting to see what we grow into."
The Lady Lakers dispatched Anne Arundel, 25-19, 25-19, and 25-16.
GC took the lead for good in the opening set with a 5-1 surge that erased an 8-7 deficit. That run included a go-ahead middle kill from Brenna L'Hommedieu and a Karen Cuellar ace that capped the streak.
The Lady Lakers took early control of the second set, breaking a 1-1 tie with a 9-2 run that gave GC a 10-3 advantage. L'Hommedieu and Emma McCord each had three kills for Garrett during the streak.
Set 3 was tied, 11-11, when the Lady Lakers went on an 11-3 surge. Emma McCord had two kills and an ace over a five-point span, and Mia Barrios added a pair of kills as Garrett completed the match sweep.
Garrett's match with Hagerstown – the NJCAA Division II Region 20 runner-up last season – was competitive in the first and third sets as Hagerstown notched a 25-16, 25-13, and 25-21 victory.
Hagerstown broke away from a 13-13 tie in the opening set with a 12-3 closing run that included three kills by freshman hitter Addison Zeigler along with two kills and a point-scoring tip from sophomore setter/hitter Emily Gasaway. The Hawks, already up 2-0, used a 7-3 surge to break away from an 18-18 tie in Set 3 as Hagerstown's top three hitters – Gasaway, Zeigler, and Emma Smith – each contributed a kill.
Jackson said she thought freshman Cierra Shoop played particularly well for the Lady Lakers during the tri-match.
"I thought Cierra was phenomenal overall," said Jackson.
Hagerstown stayed undefeated in Maryland JuCo despite fielding a seven-player team, of which only the minimum six were available Saturday.
"They've been working hard and they're all really adaptable," said Hagerstown head coach Sierra Hill.
The Hawks' entire roster is comprised of players from HCC's Washington County.
"Washington County has great high school volleyball," Hill observed.
Hill noted Jackson – who has built the Lady Lakers from 0-18 to 4-14 to 12-9 in her previous three seasons – is on the right track with her program.
"They've grown a lot," Hill said of the Lady Lakers. "I think that all comes down to coaching."
Notes: Garrett College opens its home schedule Saturday with a tri-match against Montgomery College and Cecil College. GC plays Montgomery at 10 a.m. and Cecil at 2 p.m.
