Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 KEENE, N.H. – The Keene State College women's volleyball team found themselves trailing 20-16 late in the opening two sets against Little East Conference opponent Western Connecticut State University but rallied each time and eventually posted their eighth 3-0 sweep (26-24, 25-23, 26-24) to start the league schedule with a win at Spaulding Gymnasium. KSC fell in the day's second match to Wellesley College 3-0 (21-25, 19-25, 19-25).
Records
- Keene State: 10-4, 1-0 LEC
- Western Connecticut: 8-5, 1-1 LEC
- Wellesley: 2-6
How It Happened – Western Connecticut
In a match that was basically even across the board statistically, it was the Owls who came up with key points at key times to post a sweep, winning each set by two points – two in extra points. In the opening set, KSC scored the first four points, but then saw WestConn go up 8-6 and eventually 14-10 after scoring six points in a row. The visitors still led 20-16 after consecutive KSC errors and it looked like the Owls would have to play from behind in the match, but a well-timed 8-1 burst flipped the script entirely, putting Keene State ahead 24-21.
Emilyann Ashford had three consecutive kills to give her team the lead (22-21) before a block by her and
Ali McLoughlin, who had the next kill to being up set point. Western Connecticut hit back with three in a row to force extra points, but KSC thwarted their rally attempt, as
Kacie Blanchet posted a kill before a WCSU attack error wrapped up a back-and-forth set.
Momentum continued to be a fleeting concept for the remainder of the ensuing two sets. Western scored the opening four in the second frame and later pumped their lead to 10-5 before KSC got back within two at 11-9. The Owls fought back from five down to get within one (17-16) on an ace by McLoughlin, but WestConn again saw themselves ahead 20-16 after a block and two kills by Ali Brochu. That advantage did not last, either. KSC put up six of the next seven culminating with a kill by
Sydney Johnson and an ace by the strong-serving Blanchet to nudge in front (22-21) for the first time in the frame. A spike from
Elizabeth Johnson followed by an ace by Sydney gave the Owls the chance to go up 2-0 in the match, and they did just that after Samuelson's powerful swing polished off a 25-23 win.
The roles nearly flipped completely in the third set, as WestConn led 5-1 only to see the Owls answer with an extended 17-8 surge for an 18-13 lead as they sought their eighth straight set win of the season. However, trailing 19-14, the visitors got three kills, an ace, and a block as part of running off six in a row as they threatened to come back and steal a frame of their own. However, a threat is all it was, as McLoughlin and
Sydney Johnson helped KSC retake a 23-21 edge and they did not trail again. Western fought off match point with two kills by Victoria Korzan to tie it at 24, but KSC came through in extra points, as Blanchet set up Johnson for the lead before Rory McMaster's attack hit the net to end the match.
Keene State's biggest advantage on the statsheet was a .221 to .147 edge in hitting.
Sydney Johnson paced the Owls with 10 kills against just one error, while
Ali McLoughlin had nine spikes and
Cassidy Samuelson eight.
Kacie Blanchet had 37 assists.
How It Happened – Wellesley
A slow start doomed the Owls in the day's second match, as they finished with as many kills as errors in the opening set while Wellesley College controlled the majority of the match behind a whopping 24 kills from Nicole Doerges. KSC did find their offense in the final two sets of a 3-0 loss, putting up 23 kills against only five miscues, but at that point it was too late as the Blue got their offense – and Doerges in particular – going. For a brief moment in the opening set, it did seem as though the Owls might drum up similar finishes to what they had earlier in the day against WestConn, as they turned Wellesley's 17-12 lead into a 20-19 edge of their own, but Doerges had three spikes and KSC scored just once more, being outscored 6-1 down the stretch.
The Blue separated from a 6-6 deadlock in the second by scoring 10 of the next 14 points, including five in a row at one point on three kills by Doerges and two aces by Claire Bialek for a 16-10 lead, and KSC never recovered. The hosts drew within two at 18-16 after Ashford's kill, but four in a row for Wellesley kept them well in control at 22-16 and Doerges swung twice more to wrap up a 25-19 set. Down 2-0 in the match, Keene State battled back from a 5-1 deficit to nudge in front 14-13 on an ace by
Elizabeth Johnson, but that wound up being their last lead as they did not have enough left in the tank. Two KSC errors put the Blue ahead to stay, and their lead grew to 22-18 through Doerges and Bialek. Wellesley closed the match on a 7-2 run overall and got a combined 33 spikes from Doerges (24 kills, .316 hitting) and TylerBell Smith. Ashford paced KSC with nine kills and hit .350, but the Owls were outhit .248 to .182 and had 18 fewer kills overall.
Service Aces
- The Owls have won nine in a row against Western Connecticut, three of the last four in straight sets. They are 10-3 against WCSU in Keene.
- KSC is 3-4 when they hit below .200 this season and 7-0 when they hit above that mark. Individually, the Owls have four hitting .219 or better (McLoughlin, Ashford, Samuelson, E. Johnson).
Up Next
- The Owls continue league action with an important match at Plymouth State University (11-0, 2-0 LEC) this Wednesday, September 29 at 7:00 p.m. The Panthers swept the University of Massachusetts-Boston today.
- Western Connecticut visits surging rival Eastern Connecticut State University (9-1, 2-0 LEC) on the same night and time.
- Wellesley goes to Emerson College (7-3, 2-1 NEWMAC) on Tuesday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m.
