For Immediate Release
October 20, 2009
Wellesley Sports Information
Courtesy Wheaton Sports Information
Wellesley Volleyball Sweeps Wheaton
NORTON, Mass. -- The Wellesley College volleyball team posted a 3-0 (20-25, 23-25, 17-25) victory over Wheaton College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Tuesday in Emerson Gymnasium.
The Lyons fall to 15-12 on the season and 2-5 in league action, while the Blue improve to 16-7 and 5-1.
Set one saw Wheaton jump out to a 5-1 advantage behind strong service from junior Kaitlyn Stokes (Tewksbury, MA) before Wellesley went on an 8-2 run. Tied at 12, the visitors used a 9-2 run to pull away.
The Lyons opened the second set with 5-2 and 8-5 advantages, but the Blue made the score 10-all in what proved to be the first of eight straight ties. With Wellesley clinging to a 24-22 lead, Wheaton freshman Olanna Nissim's (Greenwich, CT) kill brought the hosts to within one before Blue first-year Taylor King (Walnut Creek, CA) picked up the set-winner.
Wellesley scored nine of the final set's first 10 points. The Lyons got to within five at 15-10, but the Blue eventually pulled away in extending their advantage to 22-12. Four straight points narrowed Wheaton's gap to six at 22-16 before the visitors finished the set on a 3-1 spurt.
Sophomore Miranda Howitt (San Francisco, CA) accounted for 14 kills and seven digs to lead the hosts, senior Lauren Kraus (Westboro, MA) added nine kills, and junior Becca Rose (Sudbury, MA) tallied 34 assists and seven digs. Sophomore Emily Davisson (Carpinteria, CA) and junior Kristen Hunt (Milford, CT) finished with 14 and 13 digs, respectively.
Senior Alice Kate Cummings (Tallahassee, FL) paced the visitors with 16 kills, while first-year Elizabeth Campbell (Solana Beach, CA) contributed seven kills and a team-best 14 digs. Classmate Isabel Custodio (Powell, OH) handed out 18 assists, and junior Victoria Peng (Diamond Bar, CA) had 15. Senior Naomi Iwata (Seattle, WA) added 12 digs.
Both Wheaton and Wellesley travel to Mount Holyoke College this weekend to compete at the Hall of Fame Tournament. The Lyons will face local foe Bridgewater State College on Friday at 7:00 pm, as the third seed in the silver bracket. Wellesley takes on defending New England Regional Champion, Williams.