NORTON, MA --- The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's volleyball team took control of their match against Framingham State University early on and never relinquished its command as it cruised to a 3-0 (25-10, 25-12, 25-10) win over the Rams on a Senior Day Saturday afternoon in Emerson Gymnasium in Norton, Mass.
With the win, Wheaton improves to 9-13 on the season while Framingham State University slides back to 13-8.
Prior to the match, the Lyons honored its four seniors in a ceremony to celebrate their four years at Wheaton. The four Lyons recognized were
Hollis Hanson (Parker, Colo.),
Celina Henn (Atwater, Calif.),
Sydney Lyon (Weston, Conn.) and
Julia Wingler (Fuquay Varina, N.C.).
Wheaton swung well throughout the three set match, finishing with a .396 team hitting percentage, well ahead of the Rams' percentage of -.022.
A trio of seniors led the way for the Lyons. Henn was instrumental in the match, finishing with a double-double of 10 digs and 12 kills, adding two service aces as well to cap her senior day festivities. Lyon also celebrated the day with a big offensive performance, racking up 10 kills on a .429 hitting clip. Wingler was once again unbeatable at the net, totaling nine kills on .571 hitting and added three block assists to her senior day stat sheet. Junior setter
Ajsa Orbán (Budapest, Hungary) directed the offense with 19 assists, while junior libero
Jackie Hochberg (Tampa, Fla.) got down for 17 digs and fired an ace.
The Rams were led by their junior middle blocker Natalie Reynolds (Beverly, Mass.) who totaled a team-high six kills and one block assist. Junior right side Jamie Moniz (Swansea, Mass.) had three kills on .071 hitting while sophomore outside hitter Sarah Medeiros (Watertown, Conn.) picked up a pair of kills.
The Lyons started well, but the Rams kept pace with them during the opening phase of the first set. Lyon was tremendous at the net, rifling home three consecutive kills to put the Lyons in front 7-5. After a service error saw the ball return to Framingham's side, Henn took over the game with a hot streak of her own, scoring three straight kills and a service ace immediately after. Henn's hot hand had the hosts up 12-8, but the best was still yet to come. Wingler and Lyon led the charge for the home team as they put up six straight points to jump ahead 22-10. The Lyons finished out the set with ease as Wingler and sophomore right side
Haley Jenkins (Dartmouth, Mass.) combined for the final three points. The Rams managed only one kill against the Lyons in the opening frame.
The second set saw Wheaton jump ahead to a 5-1 lead, but the Rams clawed back into the game thanks to a pair of attacking errors and a kill from Reynolds. After coming as close as 7-6, the Rams saw their chances slip away as the Lyons stacked nine consecutive points on their opponent to lead 16-7. The Lyons continued to surge ahead as Lyon and Henn continued to chalk up kills. Although the Rams did manage to make it a bit closer at 23-12, Wheaton shut the door by forcing an error and earning a kill to win the second set 25-12.
The third set began with a brief flurry of kills from both sides. Henn and Wingler each got one while Reynolds tallied two for the Rams. Hanson was the difference maker as her kill put the Lyons up 3-2. Wheaton then went for a 17-6 run, highlighted by Lyon and Wingler each sending three kills home. Henn added a kill of her own while the Lyons were on their run, and they soon found themselves ahead 20-8. Henn added her 12th and final kill to make it a 23-10 score before a pair of errors by the Rams ended the set at 25-10.
Wheaton will head to the center of the Commonwealth as they travel to Worcester, Mass. for a road NEWMAC contest at Clark University on Tuesday, October 21 at 7:00 pm. The Rams will travel to Henniker, N.H. for a match with New England College on the same night at 6:00 pm.
