SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – The Connecticut College volleyball team dropped Friday night's opening set at Mount Holyoke College before ultimately finding its groove, bouncing back to secure a 3-1 victory in the non-conference clash at Mildred S. Howard Gymnasium.
The Camels won by set scores of 23-25, 25-20, 25-21 and 25-17 to extend their winning streak to three games.
Rae Wartelle (Tacoma, Wash.) led a three-pronged attack on the offensive end with a match-high 16 kills while
Emilie Ferdinand (Stoneham, Mass.) and
Keira Deeney (Norwell, Mass.) added 11 and 10, respectively. The trio also contributed three blocks apiece.
Aubrie Letourneau (Mattapoisett, Mass.) handed out 26 assists and tallied four service aces, and
Taylor Merrifield (Honolulu, Hawaii) chipped in a team-high 16 digs to pace the defense.
The Lyons jumped on top early in the opening set thanks to a 6-0 run, and the Camels spent the rest of the frame trying to make up the difference. Conn cut the deficit down to one on four different occasions but could never get over the hump. A kill by Eliza Vest provided set point and gave Mount Holyoke a 1-0 advantage.
The Camels responded immediately, winning six of the first seven points of the second set to seize control. Conn built the lead to 10-2 and never trailed in the stanza. Wartelle racked up seven of the team's 16 kills as the visitors evened the match at a set apiece.
Conn trailed 11-7 in the third set but ripped off a 10-2 run to grab the lead. Wartelle and Deeney each had two kills during the stretch, and the former also threw in a pair of blocks on the defensive end. Deeney finished with five kills in the frame as the Camels went up 2-1 in the match.
With the score tied at 7-7 in the fourth, Conn used a 13-2 spurt to put the match away. The Lyons cut into the deficit in the late stages of the set, but Wartelle's final kill of the night sewed up the victory for the Camels.
Vest led Mount Holyoke (9-8 overall) with 14 kills.
Conn (8-9 overall) will next host Wheaton College on Saturday, October 24 at 2:00 p.m. The Camels will honor their four seniors prior to the match.
