Women’s Volleyball Sweeps Home-Opening Tri-Match
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mt. St. Vincent (1-2,0-0) | 25 | 15 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 2 |
|
Mitchell (2-1,1-0) | 22 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mass. Maritime (0-3,0-0) | 23 | 20 | 25 | 21 | 1 |
|
Mitchell (3-1,1-0) | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 3 |
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's volleyball team took to their home court for the first time this fall on Saturday, September 6, sweeping a non-conference tri-match against the University of Mount Saint Vincent (22-25, 25-15, 21-25, 25-17, 15-11) and Massachusetts Maritime Academy (25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21) at the Yarnall Athletic Center.
With the wins, the Mariners improved to 4-1 overall while posting a 1-0 mark in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play. Mitchell will return to action at home on Wednesday, September 10, with a non-league matchup against Vermont State Lyndon at 6:00 p.m.
Match 1 – Mitchell 3, Mount Saint Vincent 2
Mitchell's attack found its rhythm in key moments, highlighted by a .583 hitting percentage in the second set and a .444 mark in the decisive fifth frame. The Mariners finished the match hitting .268 overall with 56 kills.
Senior Genna Hyde (Cypress, Texas) paced the offense with 18 kills and 10 digs for a match-high 20.5 points. Sophomore Cimber Jenkins (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) continued the strong start to her collegiate career with 12 kills on a .462 hitting percentage, while also adding four service aces. Senior Ali Ortiz (Groton, Conn.) contributed nine kills and eight digs, and sophomore Molly Wordell (East Haddam, Conn.) added eight kills and three block assists.
The Mariners also benefitted from strong setting and defensive play. Junior Kiersten Veenstra (Three Rivers, Mich.) dished out a team-high 15 assists along with 11 digs, while senior Julia Lent (Millers Place, N.Y.) anchored the defense with 24 digs and added 11 assists of her own.
After trading the opening two sets, Mitchell fell behind 2-1 but responded with an efficient fourth set, hitting .333 to force a deciding frame. In the fifth, Hyde and Jenkins delivered timely kills while Lent steadied the back row to secure the 15-11 victory.
Match 2 – Mitchell 3, Mass. Maritime 1
The Mariners attacked efficiently throughout the match, hitting .281 as a team with 48 kills. Hyde again led the way, recording a match-high 19 kills on a .273 hitting percentage, along with five service aces.
Jenkins turned in a strong all-around performance, posting 12 kills while contributing 15 assists and 11 digs for a double-double. Ortiz continued her strong day with nine kills and five digs, while senior setter Jenna Blankenship (Virden, Ill.) guided the offense with 19 assists and added three kills of her own.
Mitchell's defensive effort was anchored by Lent, who finished with a match-high 21 digs and added 10 assists for a double-double.
After holding off the Buccaneers in a tight first set, Mitchell maintained control in the second to take a 2-0 lead. Mass. Maritime fought back to claim the third set, but the Mariners closed the door in the fourth behind Hyde's late kills and a balanced defensive effort to secure the 3-1 win.
