The volleyball team played two impressive matches this weekend, sweeping Colby on Friday and getting a come-from-behind win to defeat Bates in five sets on Saturday. The team has won six of its last eight matches and now stands at 6-8 on the season and 2-2 in NESCAC play.
The Colby match took place on Senior Night, and before the match, the team and coaches honored the senior co-captains, setter Ellie Healy and middle hitter Ashley Farrow. The two players were lauded for their competitive natures and their contributions to the volleyball program.
The team seemed inspired by the mood of the evening, and they gave a raucous Silloway Gymnasium crowd a great performance. The first set was very competitive, and the score differential was never greater than five points. Tied at 22-22, the Cards went on a tear and won the final three points to take the set 25-22.
The team continued its hot streak in the second set, quickly jumping out to an 8-2 lead. However, Colby stepped up to the challenge and closed the gap to bring the set within three points to 13-10. Behind the terrific play of the offense, particularly sophomores Alissa Santucci and Casey Reed, the team opened the gap, and took the set 25-16. The third frame was quite competitive, with the teams trading blows back and forth, which eventually led to a 15-15 tie. Again, the Cards proved too much for Colby, and they took the frame 25-17 to finish off the Mules in a 3-0 sweep.
On Saturday, the team took on the Bates Bobcats in one of the most exciting matches of the season. Bates dominated the first set, at one point leading 15-1. The Cards staged a small comeback, winning six of the last eight points of the frame, but the deficit proved to be too substantial, and they dropped the set 25-13. The second set was extremely close, and both teams played very well. The score was tied at 12 different points throughout the game, starting at 8-8 and ending with 20-20. With the game tied, the Cardinals took over and won the last five points of the frame to take the second set 25-20.
The third set seemed to revert back to the first, and although the game was tied 7-7 early, the Bobcats turned on their offense and dominated the Cards to take the set 25-16. The fourth set was extremely tense, but the Cardinals showed no hesitation and seized the pace of the match. The team took a lead of 17-13 at one point, but Bates narrowed the gap, and the teams battled to another deadlock at 21-21. Wes again showed its toughness and behind some inspired play, took the set 25-23 to force a deciding fifth set.
In the fifth frame it was all Wesleyan, and the team played some of its best volleyball of the season. Reed sealed the epic comeback with a spike that slammed into the ground with dramatic fashion, and Wesleyan took the set 15-12 and the match 3-2.
There were some terrific performances this weekend, particularly from the senior co-captains Healy and Farrow and sophomores Santucci and Reed. Healy tossed up 74 assists on the weekend, while Farrow had 16 kills in the two matches. Reed had 26 kills in the two contests, and Santucci racked up 23 kills and 23 digs. Libero Ruby Hernandez ’11 came through with some stellar defense and compiled 35 digs. Junior Lesley Faulkner also had a good weekend, amassing 15 kills.
The Cards return to action on Wednesday when they head to Coast Guard for a non-conference match.
Leave a Reply