Martin produces 17 digs in the loss

NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College women's volleyball team fell to Babson College, 3-0, by scores of 25-17, 25-23, and 25-20 in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) match on Tuesday evening inside of Emerson Gymnasium.

Prior to tonight's match, Wheaton seniors Jocelyn Stone (Harrisville, N.H.), Megan Donahue (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) and Leigh Hunt (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) were all honored for their contributions towards the women's volleyball program.

Wheaton first-year libero Stephanie Martin (Centerville, Mass./Barnstable) led all student-athletes with 17 digs, while junior outside hitter Arieanne Creighton (Brookline, N.H./Hollis Brookline) paced the Lyons offense with 11 kills (.300 hitting percentage). Classmate Deirdre Wilson (Aptos, Calif./Aptos) tallied 13 digs and dished out a match-high 17 assists, while sophomore Caitlin Hellebrand (Corona, Calif./Santiago) handed out eight assists of her own. Defensively, Creighton and junior Casey Hess (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) had six blocks (two solo). 

Babson was guided by junior outside hitter Mary Donahue (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) who registered eight kills, while classmate Angela Price (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) dished out 13 assists and three service aces. Junior Alicia Wilde (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) chipped in with eight digs and seven kills. Defensively, sophomore Jenny Karnes (Houston, Texas/Memorial Hendrix College) and junior Krissy Robertson (Dedham, Mass./Ursuline Academy) each tallied four block assists. 

In set one, Babson jumped out to an early 10-5 lead behind Robertson, who held serve for three-straight points. The Lyons used back-to-back kills from Creighton and Jacobs to pull within two points, 12-10, but that was as close as Wheaton got in the opening set. The two teams traded points through the middle part of the set to make the score 20-15. The margin became out of reach as Price used a service ace, and kills by Robertson and Wilde also helped claim the first set at 25-17.

The second set featured nine tied scores and five lead changes as each team went on consecutive four point runs to open the set at 7-7. Wheaton followed with a 9-3 run behind a service ace from Jacobs and kill by Wilson to give the Blue and White a 16-13 advantage. Babson did not go away as seven consecutive serves by Price pulled the Beavers ahead, 20-16, late in the second stanza. The Lyons knotted up the score at 23-23 once again with a service ace from Martin and a kill from Creighton, but the Beavers offense claimed the final two points to take a 2-0 lead heading into the third set.

In the final set, Price held service for nine consecutive points to push Babson ahead by an 11-2 score. Wheaton rallied with an 8-6 spurt to pull within seven points, 17-10, which was highlighted by three putaways from Creighton.

Babson responded with a 3-1 run to try and set back the Lyons rally, but Wheaton didn't fold using a 6-0 run to come within two points (20-18) late in the set. Babson eventually held on to the win taking advantage of four errors by the Lyons for the 25-20 triumph.

Wheaton (17-13, 5-4 NEWMAC) returns to action on Saturday when the Lyons travel to Smith College for a conference clash at 4 p.m. Babson (21-8, 9-1 NEWMAC) will close out the season with a road tri-match on Saturday, which begins at noon and features Brandeis University and Eastern Connecticut State University. 

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