BALTIMORE, Md. – McDaniel took a 2-0 lead before rallying in the fourth set to defeat Johns Hopkins 3-1 in Centennial Conference (CC) volleyball win on Wednesday.

Lexi Corral (Tucson, Ariz./Gaithersburg [Md.]) notched 11 kills, two blocks and hit .300 to lead the Green Terror (18-6, 7-2 CC), who secured a berth in the upcoming CC playoffs with the victory. McDaniel will secure a first-round bye with a win at Washington (Md.) on Saturday or a loss by Haverford to Swarthmore. The Green Terror is still in a position to earn the top seed with a victory and Haverford win over Swarthmore.

Elizabeth Wuerstle led the Blue Jays (10-10, 6-2 CC) with 15 kills, eight digs and two block assists.

Behind aces from Colette Kellen (Olney, Md./Covenant Life) and Madeline Rose (Soddy Daisy, Tenn./Baylor School), McDaniel jumped out to a 8-2 lead in the first set.

A 6-0 counter closed the deficit to 9-8 before back-to-back Wuerstle aces helped Johns Hopkins take a 14-12 lead.

The Green Terror responded with four straight points to go back in front, 16-14.

Even at 22-all out of a McDaniel timeout, Teryn Rath (Grass Valley, Calif./Bear River) and Allie Lugar (Wilmington, Del./Dupont) knocked down back-to-back kills to reach set point and force a Blue Jay timeout before an error gave the visitors a 25-22 win.

After a back-and-forth start to the second set, back-to-back blocks from Wuerstle and Grace Haselhorst gave the hosts an 11-7 lead and forced a Green Terror timeout.

An ace from Rose capped five straight points that drew McDaniel even at 15-all and forced a Johns Hopkins timeout.

Rose made it back-to-back aces out of the timeout for a 16-15 edge.

The teams traded points until Rose and Caroline Savin (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) were able to put together back-to-back kills for a 22-20 lead en route to a 25-22 win and 2-0 lead in the match.

Tied at 4-all in the third set, the Blue Jays tallied four of the next five points to open up an 8-5 advantage.

Clinging to a 10-8 lead, a Kristi Rhead ace sparked a 5-1 burst that pushed the advantage to 14-9. The lead fluctuated between four and six points before Johns Hopkins won, 25-18.

Trailing 13-10, three straight points from Corral evened the fourth set at 13-all.

The Green Terror took a 16-15 edge before four straight Blue jays kills gave the hosts a 19-16 lead.

A Rose kill closed the deficit to 20-19 before back-to-back kills from Wuerstle and an Erica Johnston knockdown opened up a four-point lead.

A ball-handling error and kills from Martin and Corral closed the deficit to 23-22 once again.

Lugar knocked down a kill to draw McDaniel even at 24-all.

After the two teams traded points, Martin and Lugar added back-to-back knockdowns for a 27-25 victory.

Martin, the two-time reigning CC Player of the Week, added 15 kills and 15 digs. Taylor Bauman (Charlottesville, Va./Abemarle) steadied the defense with 18 digs.

Kellen chipped in 18 assists and 12 digs.

Match time on Saturday is 2 p.m.

-30-