Blue Volleyball Sweeps Clark for Seventh NEWMAC Win

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wellesley College volleyball team continued to roll over NEWMAC opponents, toppling Clark University, 3-0, on Tuesday evening at home. The Blue came away with the win using set scores of 25-19, 25-17, and 25-14. Wellesley now moves to 23-2 overall, earning their seventh-straight NEWMAC victory without a loss. Clark dips to 9-12 overall, 1-6 in NEWMAC play.

Set one was the closest, with both teams hitting well. The Blue combined for 19 kills with two errors for a .378 clip, while Clark recorded its best hitting numbers of the night, picking up 13 kills with four errors for a .237 hitting percentage. The set remained close throughout, with neither team creating more than a two-point advantage until late. 

Tied 15-15, Wellesley was able to gain momentum on a long Maddie Koh serving run, which featured three kills from Sydney Carfagno, opening the Blue lead to 21-15. Clark got kills from Anne Read and Shannon Glass-Smythe down the stretch, but Wellesley pulled away, sealing the 25-19 set on an Alixandra Binney kill. 

In set two, the Blue grabbed an early advantage, but Clark battled back to within one (12-11 Wellesley) on a Savonnah Rowe kill. The Cougars would get no closer, however, as Wellesley used long serving runs from Caitlin Laughlin and Carfagno to pull away. The Blue ended the set on a Kellyn O'Brady kill, giving Wellesley the 25-17 win.

The third set was all Wellesley, as the Blue held Clark to just a .094 hitting performance. Wellesley led 7-2 early in the set, after a Carfagno kill, and then increased the lead to 12-4 on a Courtney Lang attack. Wellesley held a commanding 21-9 lead late in the set, before Clark battled back with two straight kills from Courtney Pharr, and several Blue attack errors to make it 21-14. Wellesley then regained momentum, scoring the final four points of the set, including two Kira Jordan kills, to make it a 25-14 final. 

Glass-Smythe led the Cougars with a double-double, notching 10 kills to go along with 12 digs. Pharr added five kills and Read chipped in four. Mia Cattaneo matched Glass-Smythe with 12 digs, while Rachel Spera dished out 23 assists in the loss.

Carfagno racked up another double-double, with 13 digs and 15 kills to lead all players. O'Brady recorded seven kills, while Brooke Fieldman and Jordan added six and five kills, respectively. Traci Hamanaka anchored the backrow for the Blue, picking up 13 digs, three assists and two aces for the Blue. Hilary Ayers, Koh, and Mica Rodriguez combined for 39 assists for the win.

Wellesley is idle for a full week, returning to action on Tuesday at Smith for a 7:00pm NEWMAC clash. Clark has a busy weekend ahead, hosting non-conference matches against Amherst and Simmons on Saturday, before returning to NEWMAC play on Tuesday night against Wheaton.