CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In a battle of undefeated NEWMAC women's volleyball teams, No. 15 MIT defeated Springfield College, 22-25, 25-6, 25-20, 25-20, on Saturday afternoon in Rockwell Cage.
Ella Zhou posted a match-high 16 kills and added a team-high 18 kills for the Engineers while Aubrey Hughes produced a team-best seven kills and four blocks for the Pride.
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 15 MIT 3, Springfield 1 (22-25, 25-6, 25-20, 25-20)
- Records: No. 15 MIT (16-3 Overall, 7-0 NEWMAC); Springfield (18-3 Overall, 6-1 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Set 1: Following a back-and-forth start to the frame, Springfield gradually built a 17-12 lead after a block by Aurissa Boardman and Jodi Saelua. MIT battled back, tying the score twice, the last at 21-21 on a hitting error. The Pride picked up the next three points as a kill from Hughes resulted in set point. A kill by Zhou kept the Engineers alive, however, a hitting error clinched the 25-22 win for Springfield.
- Set 2: A 10-0 run early in the second set gave the Engineers a 14-2 advantage as they cruised to a 25-6 victory.
- Set 3: The Pride inched out to a 14-9 lead courtesy of a Hughes kill. MIT went on to tie the score three times before going on a four-point burst that put it ahead, 20-17. Jessie Trapp contributed to two blocks and added a kill in the Engineers' pivotal run. An exchange of points ensued until a block by Kayleigh May, Jennifer Cen, and Zhou resulted in set point at 24-19. A hitting error extended the frame for Springfield, but MIT replied with a Zhou kill.
- Set 4: The Engineers jumped out to an 8-3 lead and maintained a small cushion throughout the set. The Pride stayed within striking distance late in the frame as it came within two points on three occasions, the last at 22-20 on kill by Emily Keaveney. MIT countered with a kill and an ace by Ali Gibbs and then a kill from Zhou to secure the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Eileen Sadati generated 13 kills and four aces while Gibbs finished with 11 kills, a .318 hitting percentage, four blocks, and four aces.
- May tallied 41 assists, 12 digs, and five aces as Daphne Gavros collected 11 digs.
- Keaveney led all players with 20 digs and chipped in six kills while Saelua posted six kills and three blocks.
- Tori Colosimo produced 20 assists, 10 digs, and three blocks as Olivia Nealy notched 12 digs.
UP NEXT:
- Both teams return to action on Tuesday, October 21 with NEWMAC road matches. MIT will play Babson College at 6:00 PM while Springfield will take on Mount Holyoke College at 7:00 PM.
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