NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – In a tightly contested NEWMAC women's volleyball match that featured 35 ties and 17 lead changes, No. 12 MIT emerged with a 25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 26-24 victory at Smith College on Tuesday night at Ainsworth Gym.
Sabine Smith led all players with 22 kills,
Julia Tolstova had a match-high 15 digs to go along with nine kills, and
Kayleigh May compiled 43 assists, 11 digs, and four blocks for the Engineers.
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 12 MIT 3, Smith 1 (25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 26-24)
- Records: No. 12 MIT (21-4 Overall, 8-2 NEWMAC); Smith (24-5 Overall, 8-2 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Set 1: A serving error kicked off a 4-1 burst by Smith that gave it a 14-10 lead. Following its own timeout, MIT capitalized on a serving miscue which started a 7-2 run by the visitors. An exchange of points ensued until kills from Sabine Smith and Eileen Sadati in addition to an ace by May gave the Engineers a 22-19 edge. The Bears claimed the next three points, but another Sabine Smith kill and a block by May and Sadati resulted in set point at 24-22. A kill by Mia Etheridge kept Smith alive; however, a hitting error gave the set to MIT.
- Set 2: After a back-and-forth start, kills by Tolstova, Sadati, and Miller Grimes along with an ace from Sophia Song put the Engineers up, 10-7. The Bears stayed close as they tied the score three times, the last at 18-18. A pair of errors and a block by Grimes and May created some breathing room, but Smith won three of the next four points to come within 22-21. MIT used a hitting error and a kill from Sabine Smith to get to set point, and after a kill by Addison Klunder, Sabine Smith thwarted the comeback attempt with a kill of her own.
- Set 3: Following seven ties and four lead changes, a kill by Sadati sparked a 7-2 run that put the Engineers ahead, 21-18. The Bears replied with a 7-2 set-ending run as an ace by Natalia Rossi clinched the 25-23 come-from-behind victory.
- Set 4: A 6-2 run that was sparked by a kill from Sadati gave MIT a 10-7 lead, which later moved to 14-10 courtesy of a kill by Jennifer Cen. Smith quickly closed the gap to one point, however, a 4-1 burst created an 18-14 cushion for the Engineers. The Bears gradually generated an 8-3 run that put them in front, but MIT used kills from Sabine Smith and Sadati and a ball-handling error to take match point at 24-22. A kill by Alison Chapin and a hitting error by the visitors quickly evened the score. However, after their own timeout, the Engineers capitalized on a hitting miscue and a Sadati kill to secure the 26-24 win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Sadati finished the night with 14 kills as Song recorded 10 digs and a match-high three aces.
UP NEXT:
- MIT will wrap up the regular season when it hosts NEWMAC foe Clark University on Saturday, November 7 at 12:00 PM.
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