Balanced attack guides Lyons

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Wheaton College women's volleyball team defeated Rhode Island College (RIC) in straight sets, 3-0, by scores of 25-16, 25-23 and 25-21 in non-conference action on Tuesday night.

Sophomore middle hitter Elise Waelder (San Diego, Calif./Point Loma) guided the offense with eight kills on 16 swings (.250 hitting percentage), four digs and one block assist. Senior right-side hitter Lindsay Tebbetts (Gilmanton, N.H./Gilford) tallied seven kills compiling a .333 hitting percentage, while sophomore outside hitter Taylor Matook (Exeter, R.I./Exeter-West Greenwich) notched seven kills (.353 hitting percentage).

Sophomore outside hitter/setter Deirdre Wilson (Aptos, Calif./Aptos) facilitated the attack with a match-high 19 assists, seven digs, seven kills and three service aces. Classmate Page Gustofson (South Lake Tahoe, Calif./South Tahoe) contributed 13 assists and one dig.

As a team, the Lyons hit .217 (39 kills, 19 errors, 92 attempts), registered 35 assists, 16 service aces and 26 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Arieanne Creighton (Brookline, N.H./Hollis Brookline) led all student-athletes with five service aces on the night.

In the first set, Wheaton used an 11-3 run with the score nearly deadlocked at 14-13 to pull away from the Anchorwomen. During that stretch, Creighton took over offensively for the Lyons recording five-straight points on one kill and four consecutive service aces to push the visitors ahead 21-14. Sophomore middle hitter Kendall Jacobs (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch) added one kill, while Waelder and Matook also contributed a kill apiece to finish off the set.

The second set saw a quick momentum swing as RIC bounced back utilizing a 10-4 run to open up play. Anchorwomen senior middle hitter Amanda Cabral (Riverside, R.I./East Providence) connected for three of her team-leading eight kills in the second set, while sophomore outside hitter Michelle Malboeuf (Cumberland, R.I./Cumberland) had two kills.

Wheaton rallied from five separate lead changes and six ties to eventually take the set, 25-23. Tied at 21-21, RIC put two-straight points up on the scoreboard for a 23-21 advantage, but the Lyons offense responded with four unanswered kills – all from different student-athletes – for the win. Jacobs drilled her third kill of the set to make it 23-22, while Tebbetts, Matook and Waelder all followed with successful swings of their own.

In the third set, the Lyons broke up a 15-15 tie receiving two service aces and a kill from Wilson and a pair of service aces by freshman right-side hitter Gaby Gryko (Moraga, Calif./Campolindo) to close out the contest.

Wheaton (3-1) travels to Connecticut College for a tri-match also featuring Keene State on Saturday, September 7 beginning at 11 a.m. RIC (0-5) heads to the Brandeis University Invitational this Friday and Saturday.

For the latest on Wheaton College Athletics, follow the Lyons via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.