BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's volleyball team was defeated in three sets by host No. 19 Babson College (25-17, 25-16, 25-19) in the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference opener at Staake Gymnasium in Babson Park, Mass.
The Lyons dip to 4-8 overall and 0-1 in league play, while the Beavers, who are ranked in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll, win their fourth straight to improve to 9-1 and 1-0.
Babson hit .353 in the opening set and .313 in the second frame as part of a .275 night, while Wheaton finished with a .080 hitting clip. The Beavers recorded all seven blocks in the match.
Senior right side hitter Mary Caroline Mazzanti (New Orleans, La.) led the Lyons with nine kills on a .214 hitting mark in addition to picking up a dig, while first year outside hitter Eliana Inch (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) put down six kills to go with a pair of digs. Senior setter Ajsa Orbán (Budapest, Hungary) registered 14 assists, five digs and an ace and senior libero Jackie Hochberg (Tampa, Fla.) came up with nine digs for Wheaton.
Babson senior outside hitter Hailey Fouche (Montclair, N.J.) swung for 10 kills on a blistering .600 hitting percentage and added two block assists and a dig and junior middle blocker Angelina Holm (Denver, Colo.) spiked for 10 kills on a formidable .500 hitting mark in addition to firing an ace, getting up for two block assists and picking up a dig. Senior setter Zoe Ackerman (Aurora, Colo.) directed the offense with a match-high 33 assists to go with eight digs and 1.5 blocks. Junior defensive specialist Sabina Frosk (Coppell, Texas) scooped up a match-best 17 digs and served for a pair of aces.
Mazzanti found the floor for a kill to even the opening set at 4-4 for the Lyons, before the Beavers put together an 11-3 stretch, powered by three kills from sophomore middle blocker Alisa Munro (Sylmar, Calif.), to take a 15-7 advantage. The home team maintained a 19-11 difference, but Wheaton scored three of the next four points, including a kill and an ace from junior middle hitter Katie de la Pena (Castle Rock, Colo.), to cut the deficit to 20-14. The Lyons stayed within 23-17 following a kill from Mazzanti, before Babson tallied the final two points to take the set and a 1-0 match lead.
Wheaton was even with its hosts early in the middle frame as well after an Inch kill made it 6-6. The Beavers went on a 9-3 run, paced by a pair of kills from sophomore outside hitter Liberty May (Grapevine, Texas), to take the lead for good at 15-9. The Lyons closed within 15-12 with the next three points, including a kill from first year outside hitter Czyleah Pabustan (Lathrop, Calif.) to cut the margin to three. Wheaton stayed within 17-14, before Babson closed out the set with an 8-2 blitz, led by a pair of kills from Munro, to take a 2-0 match lead.
Inch gave the Lyons a 5-4 edge with a kill early in the third set, before a 9-3 stretch gave the Beavers a 13-8 advantage. Babson maintained its margin at 15-10, before a spirited 8-3 run, capped by an ace from sophomore Molly Gleason (Marstons Mills, Mass.), knotted the frame at 18-18 for Wheaton. The Beavers regrouped and ripped off seven of the next eight points to take the set and earn the match victory.
The Lyons return to the court on Saturday, September 26 when they host NEWMAC foe Wellesley College at Noon on Senior Day at Emerson Gymnasium, while Babson hosts conference rival Smith College at 2:00 p.m. on the same day.
