Volleyball Drops NECC Opener to Lesley
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Lesley University handed Mitchell College a 3-0 setback in New England Collegiate College women's volleyball action on Tuesday night at the Yarnall Athletic Center.
The Lynx won by set scores of 25-16, 25-17 and 25-16 to improve to 6-11 overall (1-0 NECC). Kaylee Deluga provided the brunt of the offensive firepower, finishing with a match-high 21 kills to go with nine digs and four service aces. Tallin Goldberg handed out 26 assists while Anni Abbruzzese and Cassidy Wygonik recorded 11 digs apiece.
Marissa Sweeney paced Mitchell with five kills while Ariana Carter added four. Lauren Tompkins pitched in with nine digs and eight assists.
Lesley opened up a 15-3 lead to start the match as Deluga was hot early. She provided 10 kills and a pair of aces in the opening set alone to jumpstart the Lynx. Mitchell rallied back and got as close as 19-14 before the visitors closed out the set by winning six of the final eight points.
The Lynx led 9-3 in the second set before the Mariners clawed back with six straight points to tie things up. However, a kill by Deluga on the ensuing rally sparked a 5-0 Lesley run, and Mitchell never got closer than four the rest of the way.
In the final set, Mitchell finally got out in front and took its largest lead at 12-7. Lesley won six of the next seven points to tie the score at 13-13, and eventually took over the lead for good with a 5-0 spurt that included an ace by Abbruzzese and two kills from Deluga. Goldberg served out the final six points of the match and recorded three aces during the stretch.
Mitchell (0-11 overall, 0-1 NECC) will next play at Southern Vermont College on Friday, October 6 at 6 p.m. Lesley returns to action at Wheaton College on Thursday, October 5 at 7 p.m.