CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In a battle of nationally ranked women's volleyball teams, No. 12 Colby College emerged with a 22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-23 victory over No. 13 MIT in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon in Rockwell Cage.
Ella Zhou amassed 16 kills, 21 digs, and four aces for the Engineers while Kendall Glover powered the Mules with 11 kills, a .360 hitting percentage, and eight blocks.
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 13 Colby 3, No. 12 MIT 1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-23)
- Records: No. 12 MIT (8-3 Overall); No. 13 Colby (10-1 Overall)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Set 1: An 8-1 run that was capped by a kill from Alexa Peguero gave Colby an 8-3 lead. The Mules maintained a small cushion for most of the set as a hitting error moved the score to 16-10. MIT chipped away at the deficit and went ahead for good at 23-22 on an ace by Kayleigh May. Following a Colby hitting error, the Engineers completed the comeback courtesy of a kill from Jessie Trapp.
- Set 2: After a back-and-forth start that featured seven ties and four lead changes, a 5-1 burst that was capped by a block from Peguero and Cyanne Jones gave the Mules a 12-9 edge. MIT countered with a 5-2 spurt as a hitting error evened the score at 14. A block by Glover and LJ Grant along with a kill from Glover created some breathing room for Colby before it went on to build a 23-17 lead after a hitting error. The Engineers capitalized on a kill by Trapp, a hitting error, and a block by Trapp and Claire Underwood to cut their deficit in half. However, a serving error and an ace by Brady Moseley secured the 25-20 win.
- Set 3: Tied at 10, MIT claimed six out of the next seven points to go up 16-11. The Mules responded with a 14-5 set-ending run that was capped by an ace from Gabby Grujic.
- Set 4: The Engineers gradually established a 16-11 advantage after a kill by Eileen Sadati. Sparked by a kill from Grant, Colby went on a 9-2 run which was bookended with a Grant ace. Following an exchange of points, a kill by Jones gave the Mules a 23-20 lead. A kill from Underwood coupled with a pair of hitting errors tied the set, however, a serving error and a block by Jones thwarted the late rally by MIT.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Sadati posted 12 kills, followed by 10 from Ali Gibbs. Trapp finished with nine kills and two blocks.
- May dished out 44 assists while Daphne Gavros collected 20 digs.
- Jones tallied nine kills, eight blocks, and two aces as Grant produced nine kills and five blocks.
- Grujic notched 20 assists and 13 digs while Jordan Lee registered 18 assists and three aces.
- Reese Loyd paced Colby with 21 digs as Moseley added 11 of her own.
UP NEXT:
- MIT will open NEWMAC play on Tuesday, September 23 when it travels to WPI for a 6:00 PM match.
- Colby will host NESCAC foe Bowdoin College on Friday, September 26 at 7:00 PM.
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