MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – No. 4 MIT defeated Wesleyan University, 25-19, 25-19, 25-20, in a non-conference women's volleyball match on Thursday night. Sophomore
Elise Echarte (Miami Beach, Fla.) generated eight kills on 11 errorless attempts, three aces, and two blocks for the Engineers.
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 4 MIT 3, Wesleyan 0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-20)
- Records: No. 4 MIT (26-0 Overall); Wesleyan (12-9 Overall)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Set 1: MIT took a 6-2 lead and maintained a small cushion as a serving error gave it set point at 24-17. A block and a hitting error extended the frame for Wesleyan, but a kill by senior Ella Gragg (Morganton, N.C.) thwarted the late rally.
- Set 2: The early stages were a back-and-forth affair as six ties and four lead changes saw the Cardinals create a 14-12 edge. A kill by Gragg sparked an 8-0 run that featured three aces from junior Daphne Gavros (Bel Tiburon, Calif.). Wesleyan narrowed the gap to 22-19 courtesy of an ace, but a serving error, an ace from sophomore Kayleigh May (Camarillo, Calif.), and a kill by sophomore Eileen Sadati (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) secured the win.
- Set 3: The Engineers built an early lead, however, the Cardinals stayed within striking distance as a block brought it within 8-7. MIT responded with a kill from Sadati which kicked off an 8-2 run. Wesleyan trimmed its deficit to 20-16 on a hitting error, but the Engineers replied with a 4-1 burst that included two kills and an ace by Echarte. The Cardinals used a serving error, a block, and a kill to stay alive, however, a kill by graduate student Consecrata Rozario (Cary, N.C.) clinched the 25-20 victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Gragg tallied a match-high 11 kills to go along with seven digs, and two blocks while Sadati finished with seven kills. May dished out 27 assists as Gavros led all players with four aces. Senior Ottavia Personeni (Bethesda, Md.) collected a match-high 12 digs while graduate student Ashley Margetts (Brownsburg, Ind.) chipped in six digs.
UP NEXT:
- MIT returns to action on Tuesday, November 5 when it hosts NEWMAC rival Babson College for a 6:00 PM match.
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