WALTHAM, Mass. – The No. 10 MIT women's volleyball team wrapped up the Brandeis University Invitational on Saturday by defeating Connecticut College (25-18, 29-27, 21-25, 25-21) and Wentworth Institute of Technology (25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23).
THE BASICS:
- Scores:
- No. 10 MIT 3, Connecticut College 1 (25-18, 29-27, 21-25, 25-21)
- No. 10 MIT 3, Wentworth 1 (25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23)
- Records: No. 10 MIT (3-0 Overall); Connecticut College (0-1); Wentworth (2-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED – MATCH ONE vs. Connecticut College:
- Set 1: Trailing 3-0, a hitting error ignited a 10-3 run that was capped by a kill from Miller Grimes. An exchange of points followed until a four-point burst increased MIT's advantage to 16-9. The Engineers' small cushion held as they reached set point at 24-16 courtesy of a hitting miscue. A block and an ace extended the frame for Connecticut College; however, Jennifer Cen stopped the late rally with a kill, clinching a 25-18 win.
- Set 2: The Camels gradually built a 10-6 lead, but MIT battled back and tied the set three times before going in front, 20-19, on a block by Brennan Fritts and Cen. Both teams traded points until an ace gave Conn a 22-21 edge, however, a serving error led to another string of trading sideouts before a block by Grimes and Kayleigh May resulted in set point at 24-23. The Camels and the Engineers then registered a pair of back-to-back points with MIT going up, 26-25, courtesy of a hitting error. Conn tied the frame twice, the last on a kill at 27-27, but a pair of miscues helped the Engineers take the 29-27 victory.
- Set 3: Facing a 19-12 deficit, MIT battled back as a block by Cen brought it within 23-20. The Camels responded with a kill which was matched by Fritts. However, another Conn kill thwarted the comeback attempt and secured the set.
- Set 4: The Camels jumped out to a 6-1 lead, but the Engineers stayed within striking distance until a kill by Fritts sparked an 8-2 run which resulted in a 15-13 edge. Conn claimed four of the next five points to reclaim the lead, however a hitting error, two Fritts kills and a kill from May put MIT up 20-17. The Camels quickly tied the set, but a block by Fritts and Grimes kicked off a 5-1 match-ending run.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Grimes produced nine kills, a .692 hitting percentage, and four blocks while Fritts finished with nine kills, six digs, and three blocks.
- Julia Tolstova and Eileen Sadati both notched seven kills as Tolstova added four aces.
- May totaled 25 assists and seven digs while Sophia Song racked up 25 digs and three aces.
- Cen chipped in four blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED – MATCH TWO vs. Wentworth:
- Set 1: Trailing 16-10, a kill by Sadati ignited a 15-5 run that was capped by a kill from Olivia Hamilton.
- Set 2: After a back-and-forth start to the match, Wentworth established a 17-12 lead. MIT chipped away at the deficit and then went up 23-20 after Hamilton's ace. The Leopards picked up the next two points, but a kill from Sadati resulted in set point. Wentworth stayed alive courtesy of a kill; however, a hitting error gave the Engineers a 25-23 win.
- Set 3: The Leopards won the opening point and stayed in front as it fought off a late rally to register a 25-22 victory.
- Set 4: MIT claimed the first three points and maintained a slim lead throughout the set as a kill by Tolstova resulted in match point at 24-22. A kill kept Wentworth alive, but Grimes secured the win with a kill of her own.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Tolstova generated 15 kills, a .542 hitting performance, and five digs as Sadati had 13 kills and a .417 hitting percentage.
- Hamilton and Cen both registered nine kills while Hamilton added five digs and three aces.
- May collected 46 assists and eight kills as Song and Adelyn Wyndham contributed 11 and six digs, respectively.
UP NEXT:
- MIT returns to action on Friday, September 11 when it hosts the two-day MIT Invitational.
- The Engineers will kick things off with a 6:00 PM match against Brandeis.
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