Blue Volleyball Comes Up Short Against Eastern Nazarene, 3-2

QUINCY, Mass. – Despite winning the third and fourth sets, Wellesley College volleyball fell 3-2 (25-17, 27-25, 17-25, 22-25, 15-9) in a non-conference match against Eastern Nazarene on Saturday at Lahue Athletic Center.

Senior Telma Zelaya (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) had a double-double for the Lions (12-1) with 43 assists and 17 digs. Junior Eliana Baran (Beaumont, Calif.) had a team-high 18 kills while sophomores Andrea Aceituno (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) and Maria Clarabuch (Sant Cugat Del Vallès, Spain) both had double-doubles for Eastern Nazarene.

First year Kate Giang (Corte Madera, Calif.) led the Blue (8-5 Overall, 2-2 NEWMAC) with a match-high 20 kills in addition to 10 digs. Classmate Madeline Zornek (Orlando, Fla.) had a season-high 40 assists, Mary Beeler (Menlo Park, Calif.) had a double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs, and sophomore libero Kaija Kunze-Hoeg (Eagan, Minn.) had a match-high 27 digs.

After a close beginning to the first set, the Lions won six of eight points to take a 20-13 lead. Wellesley never got back within five points as ENC finished a 25-17 set on a kill from Aceituno.

The Lions saved a set point at 24-23 in the second set and won three of four points to close out a 27-25 set that included 15 kills from ENC.

Wellesley led after 8-8 in the third set and never gave the lead back, utilizing 13 kills to win a straightforward 25-17 set.

The Blue had 18 kills in a 25-22 fourth set and won five of the final eight points, including a kill from first year Mary Beeler (Menlo Park, Calif.) to seal the set.

Eastern Nazarene led 7-2 in the fifth set and didn't let the Blue back within three points, closing out the match on a block from Baran and sophomore Morgan Bruner (Litchfield, N.H.).

Next up, Wellesley heads to Coast Guard for a 7:00 PM NEWMAC game on Tuesday, October 3 and Eastern Nazarene hosts Norwich at 6:30 PM the same day.