CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – After dropping the first set to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, No. 13 MIT battled back for a 19-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-15 NEWMAC women's volleyball victory on Saturday afternoon.
Eileen Sadati registered 14 kills, a .379 hitting performance, and six aces for the Engineers while Abigail Schweitzer led the Bears with 10 kills.
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 13 MIT 3, Coast Guard 1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-15)
- Records: No. 13 MIT (20-4 Overall, 7-2 NEWMAC); Coast Guard (14-9 Overall, 4-5 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Set 1: Coast Guard gradually built a 12-8 lead following an ace by Julia Gallinger. MIT won five of the next six points as Jennifer Cen's kill evened the score at 13-13. The Bears replied with an Asia Fulp kill that led to five unanswered points. The Engineers closed the gap to two points on two occasions, the last at 20-18 courtesy of a hitting error. Coast Guard countered with a 5-1 set-ending run as Corey Lemmer's kill clinched the win.
- Set 2: The Bears slowly established a 10-5 advantage and maintained a small cushion as a block by Fulp made the score 15-12. Sparked by a kill and strong serving from Sadati that saw her record three aces, MIT put together a 7-0 run. Coast Guard battled back as there were two ties and a lead change until a three-point spurt put the Engineers ahead for good at 23-21. A serving error helped the Bears cut their deficit in half, but MIT capitalized on a hitting error and a Miller Grimes kill to secure the 25-22 comeback.
- Set 3: A kill by Brennan Fritts ignited a 13-3 run by the hosts. The Engineers held a comfortable lead throughout the set and reached set point at 24-16 due to a hitting error. A serving miscue extended the frame, however, a Maya Licznerski kill won the set.
- Set 4: MIT won four of the first five points, but Coast Guard stayed close as a kill from Lemmer brought it within 12-10. The Engineers responded with a kill by Cen that kicked off a string of eight unanswered points which fueled a match-ending 13-5 run.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Fritts tallied 14 kills,12 digs, five blocks, and three aces while Licznerski generated 12 kills and .320 hitting percentage in three sets.
- Kayleigh May compiled 49 assists, 12 digs, and four aces as Sophia Song collected a match-high 18 digs and Grimes contributed five blocks.
- Lemmer finished with nine kills, followed by eight from Samantha Ventimiglia.
- Ava Ahokovi dished out 16 assists while Allie Jenkins posted 13 assists and nine digs.
- Gallinger, Fulp, and Mary Grace Delfino each earned four aces as Courtney Shire led the Bears with 16 digs.
- Eloise Shirley bolstered the defense with four blocks.
UP NEXT:
- Both teams continue NEWMAC play on the road on Tuesday, November 3.
- MIT will visit Smith College for a 6:00 PM match while Coast Guard will take the court at Mount Holyoke College an hour later.
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