THE BASICS:
 
- Score: MIT 3, Keene State College 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-23)
 
- Records: MIT (5-0), Keene State (4-1)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)
 
- The Lead: On the opening day of the MIT Women's Volleyball Invitational, the host Engineers battled Keene State College for 25-18, 25-21, 25-23 victory on Friday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Set 1: Tied at seven, a Keene State setting error kicked off a 12-4 run by MIT. The Engineers maintained a small cushion, reaching set point at 24-16 courtesy of a kill by senior Hannah Grupe (Oakwood, Ohio). A ball-handling error coupled with a kill by Cassidy Samuelson extended the frame, however, a kill by junior Alyssa Unell (Scottsdale, Ariz.) secured the win for MIT.
 
- Set 2: The Owls took a 7-6 edge following a hitting error by the Engineers. MIT replied with a kill by Bryan, which sparked a 14-5 run. Despite the deficit Keene State continued to attack, closing the gap to 24-21 courtesy of a ball-handling error. A hitting miscue by the Owls thwarted the late rally as the Engineers held on for the victory.
 
- Set 3: The third set was closely played as there were 12 ties and eight lead changes. Keene State gradually built a 16-12 advantage following an ace by Elizabeth Johnson. After its own timeout, MIT put together an 8-2 burst which gave it a 20-18 edge. The Owls claimed the next three points to go back in front. Both teams traded pairs of points until a serving error by the visitors tied the score at 23. The Engineers responded with a block by sophomore Emily Cheng (Sunnyvale, Calif.) and Bryan, and then a kill by Bryan to capture the match.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Sophomore Allison Brattley (Fleetwood, Pa.) led all players with nine kills while hitting .389 for MIT. Bryan finished with eight kills and four blocks while Unell totaled seven kills and .400 hitting effort.
 
- Cheng dished out 30 assists as junior Emma Suh (Santa Monica, Calif.) collected 14 digs.
 
- Samuelson paced Keene State's balanced attack with seven kills followed by six from McLoughlin.
 
- Kacie Blanchet amassed 27 assists, eight digs, two aces, and two blocks while Regan Fleming generated a match-high 15 digs for the Owls.
 
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT and Keene State return to action on Saturday, Sept. 11 with two more matches to close out the MIT Invitational. The Engineers will face Endicott College at 10:30 a.m. followed by nationally-ranked No. 20 Bowdoin College at 2:30 p.m. The Owls, meanwhile, will take on Bowdoin at 10:30 a.m. and Endicott at 2:30 p.m.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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