Volleyball Serves Past Anna Maria 3-0

Box Score | Photo Gallery

NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Mitchell College women's volleyball team rallied for a 3-0 non-conference victory over Anna Maria College on Wednesday night at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Mitchell (6-9 overall) won by final scores of 25-12, 25-14 and 25-18. The Mariners recorded 20 aces from behind the service stripe and got a team-high eight kills from senior Heather-Renae Powers. Freshman Shayna Diggs pitched in with seven kills while junior Jennifer Bordonaro dished out a match-high 20 assists.

Anna Maria (6-20 overall) was led by freshman Leah Murphy, who finished with eight kills. Classmate Sandy Acosta chipped in with six kills while sophomore Nichole Robbie handed out nine assists.

In the first game, the Mariners jumped out to an early 6-1 advantage behind the serve of Bordonaro. Leading 13-7 later in the set, Mitchell put the game away thanks to the serve of sophomore Brittany Zaccaria. She served for six straight points to increase the lead to 19-7, and the Mariners coasted to a 25-12 victory.

Sophomore Marie Connelly was the difference maker for the Mariners in the second game. After Mitchell sided out for an 11-10 lead, Connelly served for five straight points-including one of three aces on the night-to pump the lead to 16-10.  Freshman Samantha Alevras-Tarbell later made it 23-13 with a pair of aces, and senior Stephanie Davis provided the finishing touch with Mitchell's seventh ace of the game to close it out by a 25-14 final. 

Alevras-Tarbell, who finished with a career-high eight aces, served up four winners in the final set alone. The Mariners won eight points on her serve in the 25-18 win, including the final two points that sealed the victory.

Mitchell wraps up the regular season at home on Saturday, October 31 with a tri-match against Becker College (11 a.m.) and Newbury College (3 p.m.).