Volleyball's Season Ends in NECC Quarterfinals

Box Score

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Mitchell College women's volleyball team lost a 3-1 decision at Elms College on Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the 2009 NECC Championship.

Elms (9-19 overall), the fourth seed in the tournament, took the match by final scores of 25-21, 25-19, 18-25 and 25-23. Christina Martin recorded a match-high 12 kills while Jen Rego and Stacy Croteau each finished with nine. Rego and Kim Phillips each dished out 22 assists to lead the offensive attack.

Junior Stephanie Davis and freshman Shayna Diggs led the offensive attack for Mitchell, downing five kills each, while sophomore Brittany Zaccaria anchored the defensive effort with a team-high 17 digs. Sophomore Marie Connelly and Davis each finished with 10 digs on the night, while junior setter Jen Bordonaro captained the offense with 14 assists and added seven digs of her own. Senior Heather-Renae Powers contributed four total blocks (one solo, three assisted) in the final match of her career.

With Elms ahead 2-0 in the contest, the sides fought to four lead changes and a 15-15 score in the third stanza. Mitchell then rallied for five of the next six points to post a 20-16 lead. A Mariners attacking error and a kill by Rego brought the Blazers to within two at 20-18, but Mitchell fended off the sweep by scoring the next five points, highlighted by a kill each from Zaccaria and freshman Akesia Bernard to force a fourth set.

In the fourth frame, neither team led by more than three points as the teams battled to a 24-22 score in favor of Elms. Diggs kept Mitchell's hopes alive with her fifth kill of the night to pull the Mariners to within one at 24-23, but Rego sealed the set and match with her ninth termination of the contest.

Mitchell ends the season with an overall record of 7-11.