While fall break provides the majority of the student body with the chance to relax and recharge, many fall athletic teams saw action-packed weekends. The volleyball squad was no exception, heading to Western Connecticut State on Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22 to take part in the Colonial Classic.
First up for Wes was Babson College. Wesleyan eked out the first two sets by close margins of 25-22, and 25-23, respectively. The third set was equally contentious, with the Cardinals unable to secure the sweep, falling 25-22. The fourth set proved to be decisive, and it corresponded with the largest margin of the match as well, as Wes cruised to a 25-16 fourth set, and a 3-1 match victory. Monica Leslie ’14 led the offensive onslaught Against Babson,with 12 kills, while the team’s most prolific defender, Jeanne McPhee ’13, notched 20 digs.
Saturday’s action featured two matches for the Cardinals, the first of which was against The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). Wesleyan took a closely contested first set by a count of 25-22, before dismantling USMMA in the following two sets by scores of 25-13 in both. The 3-0 match victory was Wes’ second of the year, giving the squad its first three-match winning streak of the season. Saturday’s action concluded with a showdown between Wes and host Western Conn.
Wesleyan opened the match emphatically, nailing home the first set by a landslide margin of 25-13. The second set was more closely contested, but again the Cardinals prevailed in a tense and tumultuous 29-27 set, which marked the longest set of Wesleyan’s season. Looking to shut the door in the third set, the Cards were upended 25-17, and again 25-17 in the fourth set.
Western Conn sealed the deal in the fifth set, snagging a 15-12 win and completing an impressive and devastating comeback.
Notable Wes performances on the day came from Leslie with 32 kills and Laura Yim ’13, who paced the team with 11 aces and 15 digs on the weekend. Yim sealed a spot on the all-tournament team as a result of her standout play.
On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Wes was back in action for its home finale against in-state rival Eastern Conn. The teams traded set victories to open the match, with Eastern Conn taking the opener 25-23 and Wes responding with a 26-24 triumph in set number two. In a pivotal third set, Wesleyan broke a 22-22 deadlock and ran off three consecutive points, taking a 2-1 set advantage. Eastern Conn staved off defeat in a resounding 25-17 fourth set, setting the stage for the tie-breaking fifth set. With the score knotted at 12-12, Eastern Conn took the final three points of the set, winning the set 15-12 and the match 3-2. The past week’s action gives Wesleyan an 8-17 overall record with a 1-6 mark in NESCAC play. The squad has upcoming matches versus a trio of Maine-based NESCAC rivals, as it will travel to Bates to face the host, as well as Bowdoin and Colby.