CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A five-point rally in the third set helped No. 13 MIT secure a 25-9, 25-21, 26-24 sweep of Smith College in a NEWMAC women's volleyball match on Tuesday night in Rockwell Cage.
Kayleigh May generated 35 assists, seven digs, and six blocks for the Engineers while Alison Chapin powered the Bears with nine kills.
Prior to the match, MIT honored its graduating class of
Ali Gibbs,
Daphne Gavros, and
Claire Underwood.
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 13 MIT 3, Smith 0 (25-9, 25-21, 26-24)
- Records: No. 13 MIT (23-3 Overall, 10-0 NEWMAC); Smith (18-11 Overall, 6-4 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Set 1: MIT won five of the first six points before going on to win the set, 25-9, on an ace by May.
- Set 2: The second stanza featured seven ties and three lead changes. The Engineers inched out to an 11-7 lead, but Smith put together an 8-1 run to go in front. MIT stayed close and then a five-point burst that was capped by a block from May and Gibbs gave it a 22-18 lead. The Bears responded with a kill by Abby Hunt, a block by Miranda Oakes and Addison Klunder, and then a kill from Klunder. However, the Engineers countered with their own three-point burst as another May-Gibbs block secured the 25-21 win.
- Set 3: The third set was another back-and-forth affair as there were nine ties and four lead changes. MIT built a 5-0 lead, but Smith stayed within striking distance and eventually went up 18-15 courtesy of a block by Klunder and Anna Feuer. The Engineers chipped away at the deficit and took a 21-19 edge after a kill from Jessie Trapp. Sparked by a kill from Klunder, the Bears rattled off five unanswered points as a hitting resulted in set point. MIT responded with a kill by Ella Zhou, back-to-back blocks by May and Gibbs, and two kills from Gibbs to capture the 26-24 come-from-behind win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Eileen Sadati led all players with 13 kills while Zhou totaled 11 kills, eight digs, and two aces.
- Gibbs and Trapp both finished with seven kills as Gibbs recorded five blocks.
- Gavros paced the Engineers with nine digs and added seven assists.
- Klunder and Hunt both posted seven kills while Klunder chipped in three blocks.
- Hana Suzuki and Ruby Woodward dished out 16 and 11 assists respectively as Ruth Tullis collected nine digs.
- Oakes and Feuer bolstered the defense with four blocks apiece.
UP NEXT:
- Both teams will wrap up the NEWMAC regular season on the road on Saturday, November 8. MIT will visit Clark University for a 12:00 PM match while Smith will take on Wellesley College at 1:00 PM.
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