For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2007
Wellesley Sports Information
Contact: Tom Wilson
Wellesley Falls to Wesleyan, 3-1
Box score
Wellesley, Mass. – Behind a stellar performance from junior outside hitter Lisa Drennan (Ann Arbor, Mich), Wesleyan downed Wellesley 3-1 in the Cardinals' opening match of the season. Drennan, who notched her first double-double of the year, racked up 22 kills on 68 attempts and added 19 digs. Wesleyan stands 1-0 on the year. Wellesley drops to 1-1.
In the opening set, Wellesley jumped out to a 13-8 lead before the Cardinals fought back to tie the score at 13 behind tough serving from libero Ruby Hernandez (West Palm Beach, Fla.). Wesleyan cruised the rest of the way, taking the first game 30-23. Wellesley bounced back in the second set, using a solid quick attack to disrupt the Cardinal defense. Senior captain and middle hitter Tracy Waldman (Seattle, Wash) led the Blue comeback, racking up six kills in the game and guiding Wellesley to a 30-20 win to even the match at one game each.
The third set was see-saw battle as both teams fought to take control of the match. Wesleyan's defense and transition offense, led by Drennan, proved too much for the Blue as the Cardinals pulled out a 30-28 win and took a 2-1 lead. Wellesley came out flat in game four, as Wesleyan took a 5-0 lead. The Blue scrambled back to tie the game at 7-7 and turn it into a sideout battle. Wellesley broke away late in the game, taking a 29-26 lead, but several clutch plays from the Cardinals turned the game around, allowing them to snatch a 32-30 win to take the match 3-1.
Wesleyan's Drennan led all hitters with 22 kills, as teammates Fotini Xenidis (Shelton, Conn.) and Becca Rodger (Long Beach, NY) added six and five kills, respectively. Hernandez tallied 26 digs to lead the Cardinals, while setter Ellika Healy tallied 35 assists.
Junior outside hitter Jessica Duff (Milton, Abingdon, UK) led the Blue with 14 kills, while Waldman added 13. Junior Murielle Dawdy (Larkspur, Calif.) chipped in 11 kills and 22 digs.
The Cardinals return to action this afternoon against Williams College. The Blue play Williams later today.
Women's Volleyball: Wesleyan 3, Wellesley 1
| Wesleyan | 30 | 20 | 30 | 32 | |
| Wellesley | 23 | 30 | 28 | 30 |