Lesley Tops Volleyball in Four Sets
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Lesley University came away with a 3-1 victory (25-19, 16-25, 25-20, 25-12) on Saturday afternoon in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) women's volleyball contest at the Yarnall Athletic Center.
Danielle Johnson recorded a team-high eight kills while Katrina Stroganoff added seven to pace Lesley (6-8 overall, 2-1 NECC). Johnson also handed out 18 assists and served for a match-high five aces. Senior Gloria Charles led Mitchell (4-9 overall, 1-1 NECC) with a match-high 11 kills and 11 digs.
Lesley scored the first five points of the day to take control of the opening set. Mitchell eventually whittled the margin down to two at 10-8, but the Lynx never let the lead slip away. Anthea Rathjens served for five straight points to give Lesley its biggest lead at 20-12, and she later capped off the set with a kill to give the Lynx an early 1-0 advantage.
Mitchell evened the match by winning the second set, with Charles contributing three kills and both Barbara Fontes and Amanda Garcia adding a pair. The two sides then went back and forth early on in a third set that featured seven ties. With the score knotted at 14-14, Lesley pulled ahead on a service error and then got back-to-back aces from Stroganoff. The Lynx never trailed again in the set en route to a 2-1 lead.
Mitchell jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth set, but Lesley rallied back to win 15 of the next 19 points to take command. Jessie Reynolds served for five points during the stretch while Johnson served for six, including four straight aces. Johnson later added the finishing touch with a kill on match point.
Rathjens and Danielle McDonald each finished with five kills for the Lynx. Katey Carew led Lesley with a match-high 14 digs while both McDonald (12) and Stroganoff (10) also finished in double digits in the category.
Garcia and freshman Amanda Rowan each recorded seven kills for the Mariners. Sophomore Nicole Caminiti handed out a match-high 26 assists.
Mitchell will next host Newbury College on Wednesday, October 9 at 6 p.m.