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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Wellesley College overcame an early deficit to clip the University of New England by a 3-1 margin (18-25, 25-21, 25-11, 26-24) in women's volleyball action at Coach Beaudry's Court inside the Harold Alfond Forum on Saturday afternoon (Sep. 19).
Up two sets to one, the Blue (6-2) then needed to hang on to end it in four frames, as the Nor'easters (4-2) dug themselves from a seven-point hole. It was still 19-13 in favor of Wellesley before
Abby Simao and
Mia Kenny provided a 4-1 burst for UNE -- each with one kill, and together for a couple of blocks. An ace by
Tess Madden knotted things at 23-all, and a block from
Josie Eliot established a deadlock at 24-24, but the next two plays fell for the visitors to seal it.
Delia Noel tallied seven of her match-best 17 kills in the 4th, while also recording 17 digs in the contest for Wellesley. Evie Hill contributed another double-double of 13 kills and 12 digs, and Ella Mancuso chipped in with 11 winners. Else Kunze-Hoeg collected 44 assists, to go with nine digs, five kills (.357), and three aces. Caroline Meyer topped all players in digs (24) and service aces (6).
On the UNE side of the net,
Hannah Nowell recorded 12 kills and 13 digs. Madden also posted a double-double of 10 kills and a team-best 20 digs.
Hayley Shult guided the attack, for the most part, totaling 21 assists, and
Lylah Shumway was right there with Madden along the back line to accumulate 19 digs. Eliot notched three kills and three blocks.
The Nor'easters never trailed in the opening stanza, and began to separate from the Blue at 7-all. The cushion peaked at nine (20-11, 22-13), but was reduced to just four (22-18) before Madden put down a pair of kills and
Kendall Gallaugher wrapped the set for the hosts. Nowell had five winners and no miscues to lead the way.
After a 5-0 spurt in the early stages of the 2nd, to go up 10-6, Wellesley never let UNE back closer than three and leveled the match (1-1). In the 3rd, the Blue pulled away from a 14-11 battle to take the advantage on the overall scoreboard.
The Nor'easters will be back at work on Wednesday (6 p.m.) when Plymouth State University comes to town.
