Clark Sweeps Blue Volleyball in NEWMAC Action

WORCESTER, Mass. – Clark University junior Marina Ramos (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) recorded 16 kills and 18 digs to lead the host Cougars to a 3-0 (30-28, 25-19, 25-21) New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory over Wellesley College volleyball on Tuesday night at Kneller Gymnasium. 

Both teams stand at 4-3 in conference play following tonight's match, with Clark improving to 14-7 overall and the Blue dropping to 11-9 on the year. 

Ramos' 16 kills led all players. Ramos was joined in double-figures by classmate Jacqueline Jimenez-Maldonado (San Francisco, Calif.), as Jimenez-Maldonado racked up 11 kills on 28 attempts. Sophomore Ana Mercado (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) chipped in with nine kills. Senior Mia Cattaneo (Santa Barbara, Calif) added 19 digs for the Cougars, who also got 11 digs from sophomore Rayme Quiban (Seattle, Wash.). Sophomore Rachel Webb (Celina, Texas) paced the offense with 39 assists. 

For the Blue, sophomore Samantha Hoang (Elk Grove, Calif.) had a match-high 26 digs. Classmate Ashley Peng (San Diego, Calif.) recorded her third double-digit kill total in her last four matches, finishing with a team-high 10 on the evening. Sophomores Michelle Li (Scarsdale, N.Y.) and Samantha Ostenso (Hopkins, Minn.) added seven kills apiece, while Li also totaled 26 assists and seven digs.

Clark outlasted the Blue in a back-and-forth first set before going on to sweep the Blue. The Cougars opened the first set on a 6-0 run, and eventually took a 10-3 lead, but the Blue fought back in a game that featured 12 ties and nine lead change. Clark broke the final tie, at 28-28, when back-to-back Blue errors helped the Cougars take the victory.

The hosts led throughout the second set, getting out to 19-5 lead before Wellesley came storming back with an 11-0 run to draw within two, at 19-17. The Blue push ultimately fell short as Clark rallied to take a 25-19 win in set two. The Cougars then went on to close out the sweep with a 25-21 win in the third set.

Wellesley will host Ithaca College on Friday, October 14, at 4:30 PM on day one of the Wellesley Invitational. Clark will play at Connecticut College on Saturday at 12:00 PM.