Blue Volleyball Splits at Emory Invitational; Takes Set from #4 Emory

ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Wellesley College volleyball team finished out the 2013 Emory Invitational with a split on Saturday. The Blue opened with a 3-0 sweep over Maryville College, but then dropped a 3-1 match to Emory, the fourth-ranked team in the nation.

Wellesley senior Traci Hamanaka and junior Sydney Carfagno were each named to the All-Tournament team following the weekend event. Hamanaka led the Blue defense with 58 digs in four matches, while Carfagno paced the offense with 44 kills in the tournament.

The Blue opened the day with a sweep over Maryville (3-13), taking the match with set scores of 25-14, 25-22, 25-14.

Carfagno led the way with nine kills and 13 digs to record a double-double-, while Kellyn O'Brady hit totals of eight kills, nine digs, and three aces. Caitlin Laughlin recorded seven kills and also added three aces and a pair of blocks. Maddie Koh notched 15 kills in the match, while Hilary Ayers added 14.

Hamanaka led the Blue with a match-high 22 digs, while Kira Jordan and Brooke Fieldman each added two blocks.

Against #4 Emory (12-1), Wellesley won the first set, but couldn't hang on for the match win. The Eagles came out on top with set scores of 23-25, 25-15, 25-15, and 25-9.

Carfagno led the Blue with 16 kills and 13 digs for her second double-double of the day. Fieldman and Laughlin recorded seven kills and three blocks each, with both players recording the only hitting percentages above .250 for the struggling Blue offense.

Koh and Ayers again split the setting duties, with Koh picking up 16 assists and Ayers adding 15. Rounding out the box score, Hamanaka (11) and O'Brady (10) combined for 21 digs.

Wellesley is back in action on Tuesday, traveling to Wheaton for a 7:00pm NEWMAC match. The Blue will then play a home game on Thursday, hosting Babson for "Heal Teal," Wellelsey's Ovarian Cancer Awareness Night.