By Charles Baynum//
The Hood College women’s volleyball team had plenty to celebrate this week. Senior standout Ann Ofoegbu reached the 1,000-kill mark for her career, and the Blazers picked up a five-set win over York College — their first ever against the Spartans — before facing a tough stretch against Mount Aloysius and conference rival Messiah University.
Ofoegbu entered the York match just two kills away from the milestone and wasted no time getting there. She picked up her 1,000th early in the first set, sparking cheers from teammates and fans as she went on to finish with 23 kills and 20 digs in a 3–2 victory. The Blazers won by set scores of 26–24, 25–14, 18–25, 24–26 and 15–13.
Setter Maria Ricketts turned in a career-high 49 assists, and Cam Madden added four service aces. Hood came out firing, taking the first two sets before York pushed back to force a fifth.
The Blazers regrouped, built an early lead, and held off a late York rally with Madden slamming down the final kill to seal the program’s first win over the Spartans.
A few days later, the Blazers returned home but could not keep the momentum rolling, dropping a 3–0 match to Mount Aloysius College. Ofoegbu led the team again with 13 kills, while Ricketts tallied 24 assists and Madden added six digs.
Hood battled through each set but could not get over the hump, falling 25–14, 25–21 and 25–19. The Blazers tied the second set at 20–20 behind a pair of kills from Sami Betley, but the Mounties closed on a run to take control. Despite the loss, Hood’s energy stayed high throughout, with several long rallies keeping the crowd engaged.
The Blazers wrapped up the week at home against Messiah University, one of the top teams in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth.
Hood kept the pressure on the defending champions in all three sets before falling 25–21, 25–20 and 25–19.
Madden paced the offense with nine kills, while Ricketts led in both assists (22) and digs (12). Skylar Plante had four blocks to help slow down Messiah’s attack.
After falling behind early in the first set, Hood fought back with a 7–2 run to tie it at 14 and even took a brief lead before the Falcons pulled away late. The second and third sets followed the same pattern — strong starts and steady play from the Blazers, but Messiah’s experience and late-set execution made the difference.
Even with two losses to close out the week, the Blazers showed effort and growth while celebrating a major career milestone.
Ofoegbu’s 1,000th kill stands as one of the most significant moments in program history, and the team’s first win over York marked a major step forward. As Hood moves deeper into conference play, the Blazers look to build on their chemistry and carry that same energy into the rest of the season.
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