Wellesley Volleyball Cruises Past Mt. St. Mary (N.Y.) In Brandeis Invitational Finale

WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior Samantha Hoang (Elk Grove, Calif.) tallied 19 digs, five assists and three aces to help Wellesley College volleyball conclude play at the 2017 Brandeis Invitational with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-21) victory over Mount Saint Mary College (N.Y.) on Saturday at Auerbach Arena. 

Wellesley is now 1-2 overall following their first weekend of competition, while the Knights slide to 1-2 on the year.

Hoang was one of three Wellesley players in double-figures on defense, as classmate Michelle Li (Scarsdale, N.Y.) and first year Becca Aristotelidis (San Antonio) each added 11 digs. Li also dished out 27 assists, as the Blue got a match-high eight kills from junior Samantha Ostenso (Hopkins, Minn.), seven kills from first year Darina Postupaka (Tinley Park, Ill.) and five kills and a pair of block assists from first year Lauren Gedney (Huntersville, N.C.).

Junior Nicole Spinelli (Wantagh, N.Y.) led the way for Mt. St. Mary (N.Y.) with seven kills, with sophomore Morgan Burke (Ringwood, N.J.) adding six. Sophomore Chelsea Barberan (Fishkill, N.Y.) had a match-high with 20 digs for the Knights and junior Courtney Blum (Belle Harbor, N.Y.) picked up 19 assists. Both Spinelli and Blum had a pair of aces in the match. 

Wellesley put down 12 kills in each of the first two games, opening the match with a 25-14 victory, before taking a two sets to none lead with a commanding 25-10 win in the second game. The Blue hit .306 in the second set, running out to a 12-1 lead to open the frame. Wellesley then broke a 9-9 tie in the third set to secure the win with a 25-21 win. 

The Blue will return to the court Friday night, September 8, at the annual MIT Invitational. Wellesley will open the tournament against Geneseo at 6:00 PM. Mt. St. Mary will host New Rochelle in their next match on Tuesday, September 5, at 7:00 PM.