THE BASICS:
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Score: No. 14 Wesleyan University 3, No. 17 MIT 0 (25-23, 25-18, 30-28)
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Records: No. 17 MIT (12-2), No. 14 Wesleyan (10-1)
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Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)
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The Lead: In a battle of nationally-ranked teams, No. 14 Wesleyan University emerged with a 25-23, 25-18, 30-28 victory over No. 17 MIT in a non-conference women's volleyball match on Thursday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
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Set 1: Wesleyan built a 12-4 lead and maintained a small margin throughout the frame, reaching set point at 24-16 on a hitting error. Sparked by strong serving from senior
Sofie Kupiec (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), MIT narrowed the gap to 24-23 on a kill by junior
Ashley Margetts (Brownsburg, Ind.). The Cardinals thwarted the comeback attempt courtesy of a kill by
Bella Ahearn.
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Set 2: The majority of the second stanza was closely played as there were 11 ties and six lead changes. Knotted at 14, a serving error coupled with a kill from Ahearn gave Wesleyan a 16-14 edge. The Engineers replied with a kill from junior
Consecrata Rozario (Cary, N.C.), which set off an exchange of points that moved the score to 18-17. The Cardinals capitalized on a kill from
Kathryn Morton and a hitting error to close the set with a 7-1 run.
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Set 3: The third set was a back-and-forth affair as there were 21 ties and 11 lead changes. A kill by senior
Lilly Edwards (Kansas City, Mo.) gave MIT set point at 24-23. Wesleyan's
Sophia Lindus responded with a kill of her own, resulting in both teams trading points until a serving error and another Lindus kill put the Cardinals in front, 26-25. Following their own timeout, the Engineers reclaimed the lead courtesy of a kill and an ace by Edwards. Lindus evened the score at 27 with a kill but Rozario's kill once again resulted in set point. Lindus generated another kill which was followed by a block from
Mariko Tanaka and Ahearn and then an ace by Lindus to capture the 30-28 victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Edwards paced MIT with 13 kills, followed by 11 from sophomore
Lauren Keller (Albuquerque, N.M.) and nine by Rozario. Kupiec tallied 39 assists, 15 digs, and two aces.
- Sophomore
Ottavia Personeni (Bethesda, Md.) led all players with 18 digs as Margetts chipped in nine digs. Senior
Alyssa Unell (Scottsdale, Ariz.) bolstered the defense with two blocks.
- Lindus finished with a match-high 16 kills while hitting .375 as Ahearn posted 10 kills.
Maya Lopansri generated 21 assists and seven digs while
Grace Dennis recorded 12 assists in two sets.
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Jenna Otaola totaled 15 digs and five aces as Tanaka notched three blocks.
- This was the first meeting between both programs since 2011 and Wesleyan's first victory since 2000. The Engineers now have a 14-5 all-time record against the Cardinals.
UP NEXT:
- Both teams resume conference play on the road for their next outings. MIT will travel to NEWMAC foe Smith College on Saturday, Oct. 1 for a 12:00 p.m. match while Wesleyan will play NESCAC rival Colby College on Friday, Sept. 30 at 7:00 p.m.
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