Volleyball Nabs First Win at Salem State

SALEM, Mass. -- The Mitchell College women's volleyball team defeated Salem State University by a 3-1 final on Saturday afternoon at Twohig Gymnasium. The Mariners won by scores of 20-15, 25-20, 25-8 and 25-23 to improve to 1-1 on the season. 

Olivia DeLoach posted match highs of 16 kills and 21 digs to lead the way for Mitchell. Molly Steel-Miller contributed 13 kills while Bree Rudolph added nine. Claire Binfield handed out a career-high 38 assists while Stephanie Costabile finished with 20 digs. 

Mitchell grabbed an early advantage thanks the strong play of DeLoach, who had five kills in the opening set. The Mariners committed just three errors and hit at a .317 clip before Steel-Miller cemented the first-set win with Mitchell's 16^th kill of the stanza.

The Vikings bounced back in set two, winning 25-20. Salem State jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Mitchell tied the set 4-4. Salem State then went on a 9-3 run, taking advantage of multiple errors by the Mariners. A kill from Abigail O'Connor made the score 22-12 in favor of the Vikings before a service error committed by Mitchell gave Salem State a five-point victory.

The Mariners coasted to an easy 25-8 win in set three. Four kills by Rudolph helped the Mariners to a 13-3 lead. Mitchell then closed the set with four straight points to go up 2-1.

Salem State rallied in set four. A closely played set saw the Vikings take a 20-17 lead following a kill by Ella Speidel. However, Mitchell responded with a 4-0 run to regain the lead following an attack error by Salem State. Two kills by DeLoach and an error by Salem State propelled the Mariners to the four-set victory.

The win, in addition to being the first for the Mariners this season, was the first in the head coaching career of Kelsey Goodman.

Mitchell (1-1 overall) will next host Albertus Magnus College on Thursday, September 9 at 7 p.m.