THE BASICS:
 
- Scores:
No. 8 Calvin University 3, No. 19 MIT 1 (25-27, 25-23, 25-18, 25-18)
No. 10 NYU 3, No. 19 MIT 2 (28-26, 21-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-13)
 
- Records: No. 19 MIT (14-5); No. 8 Calvin (15-3); No. 10 NYU (15-4)
 
- Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Athletic Facility)
 
- The Lead: The No. 19 MIT women's volleyball team closed out the NYU Showdown with a pair of tough losses on Saturday. The Engineers fell to No. 8 Calvin University, 25-27, 25-23, 25-18, 25-18, in the morning and then they were edged out by No. 10 NYU in a 28-26, 21-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-13 thriller in the evening.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – MATCH ONE vs. No. 8 Calvin:
 
- Set 1: After a back-and-forth start to the set, MIT built a 20-14 lead courtesy of an ace by sophomore Lauren Keller (Albuquerque, N.M.). Calvin battled back and came within one point on three occasions, but a kill from Keller gave the Engineers set point at 24-22. The Knights responded with two kills and an ace to go in front, however, MIT capitalized on a kill by first-year Ali Gibbs (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), a hitting error, and a kill from junior Consecrata Rozario (Cary, N.C.) to capture the 27-25 victory.
 
- Set 2: The second set was closely played as there were 14 ties and five lead changes. A kill by Calvin tied the score at 16 and then it slowly built a 24-20 lead. A trio of miscues kept the Engineers alive, but a hitting error resulted in a 25-23 win for the Knights.
 
- Set 3: Calvin jumped out to a 9-2 lead and maintained a comfortable cushion as an ace secured the 25-18 victory.
 
- Set 4: Back-to-back aces gave the Knights a 12-6 advantage. A serving error, kills by sophomore Ella Gragg (Morganton, N.C.) and Keller, and an ace from junior Emily Cheng (Sunnyvale, Calif.) narrowed the gap to 12-10. However, Calvin gradually pulled away en route to another 25-18 decision.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Keller led the way with 12 kills and six blocks as senior Lilly Edwards (Kansas City, Mo.) and Gragg both posted 11 kills. Gibbs contributed nine kills and six blocks while Rozario bolstered the front row with eight kills.
 
- Cheng totaled 46 assists and 11 digs as sophomore Ottavia Personeni (Bethesda, Md.) amassed a match-high 17 digs. Junior Ashley Margetts (Brownsburg, Ind.) rounded out the Engineers with 13 digs and two aces.
 
- This was the third meeting between both programs and first since 1989. MIT defeated Calvin in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament in 1984 while the Knights topped the Engineers in the first round of the 1989 NCAA Tournament.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – MATCH TWO vs. No. 10 NYU:
 
- Set 1: A block increased NYU's lead to 15-10, but a kill by Keller sparked an 8-1 run by MIT. The Violets tied the score twice, however, another kill from Keller gave the Engineers a 22-20 edge. NYU used a kill, a hitting error, and an ace to go in front but a kill from Gibbs evened the set at 23. A hitting error resulted in set point for the Violets, however, MIT replied with a Rozario kill and an ace by Keller. An exchange of points followed until a pair of kills and a block clinched the 28-26 win for the hosts.
 
- Set 2: MIT raced out to an 8-2 advantage and maintained a small margin throughout most of the set. Despite the deficit NYU continued to attack, coming within 20-19 courtesy of an ace. Sparked by a kill from Gragg, the Engineers went on to win five of the final seven points to record a 25-21 victory.
 
- Set 3: After a tight start to the set, the Violets built a 20-12 lead. MIT battled back as a block by Edwards and Rozario narrowed the gap to 22-20. NYU replied with a trio of kills to thwart the late rally.
 
- Set 4: A hitting error by the Violets kicked off a 12-5 run which resulted in a 17-10 advantage for the Engineers. NYU stayed within striking distance as it came within three points on five occasions, the last at 23-20 on a kill. MIT capitalized on a hitting error and a kill by Edwards to secure the win.
 
- Set 5: The early stages of the set featured four ties and two lead changes. The Violets tied the frame at six but a pair of hitting errors gave the Engineers the edge at the changeover. Once action resumed, NYU rattled off five unanswered points to take an 11-8 lead. After trading points, a hitting error brought MIT within one (12-11). The back-and-forth scoring returned as a serving error gave the Violets match point at 14-12. A kill by Rozario kept the Engineers alive and prompted a timeout by NYU. Following the break, the Violets captured the match with a kill.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Edwards generated a match-high 19 kills while Rozario produced a career-high 17 kills on a .469 hitting performance to go along with two blocks. Keller notched 11 kills as Gragg posted 10 kills and two blocks. Gibbs rounded out the front row with a team-high four blocks.
 
- Cheng tallied a career-high 57 assists and 12 digs as first-year Daphne Gavros (Tiburon, Calif.) led all players with four aces.
 
- Personeni paced MIT with a match-high 27 digs, followed by 13 from Margetts and 12 by senior Sofie Kupiec (Manhattan Beach, Calif.).
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT resumes NEWMAC play on Tuesday, Oct. 11 when it hosts Clark University for a 6:00 p.m. match.
 
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