Wellesley Volleyball Completes Comeback to Stun Plymouth State, 3-2

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Fueled by 26 kills and 17 digs from first year Kate Giang (Corte Madera, Calif.), Wellesley College volleyball erased a 2-0 deficit to win a thrilling 3-2 (16-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-13) non-conference match against Plymouth State at Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse on Thursday evening.

In addition to season-high numbers from Giang, the Blue (11-11 Overall, 2-7 NEWMAC) saw a season-high 28 digs from sophomore libero Kaija Kunze-Hoeg (Eagan, Minn.) and a 28 assist, 15 dig double-double from first year Madeline Zornek (Orlando, Fla.). Junior Rachel Xu (Beijing, China) added six blocks while first years Caroline Meyer (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Evelyn Hill (Rocklin, Calif.) combined for 17 kills.

Junior Makayla Marucci (Newton, Mass.) had a match-high 34 digs for the Panthers (18-3 Overall) and seniors Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) and Aynslee King (Anacortes, Wash.) both had double-digit kills, with Ryan adding six blocks. Sophomore Riley McDonough (Gilford, N.H.) led Plymouth State with 20 assists.

The Panthers jetted out to a 10-3 lead in the first set and didn't let off the gas, winning a 25-16 set with 13 kills on a .370 hitting percentage.

Despite losing the first four points of the second set, the Blue tied it up at 7-7. After a close middle portion of the set, PSU used a 4-0 run to go up 15-9 and later built up a 23-15 lead before the Panthers closed out a 25-18 set.

The teams were tied at 16-16 in the third set when Wellesley made its move, winning a trio of points that included two kills from Giang. Another 3-0 run gave the Blue a 23-18 lead, and the team closed out a 25-20 set on a kill from Meyer.

The fourth saw both teams knotted up at 11-11, before Wellesley won eight of nine points on a powerful run that included six kills. Though a late five point run brought Plymouth State within two at 24-22, Giang polished off the set with a kill for the Blue.

The Panthers opened the fifth set with three points and led 6-2, but the Blue would not go away, taking the lead at 7-6. The set saw more back and forth action, tied at 11-11, before Wellesley got a match point at 14-12. While PSU saved one match point, Giang completed the comeback for the Blue with her 26th and final kill of the match. 

Up next, the Blue travel to WPI for a 7:00 PM match on Tuesday, October 31 while the Panthers host Westfield State and Salve Regina for a tri-match beginning at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 28.