Volleyball Wins Home Opener vs. Albertus Magnus

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's volleyball team won its home opener by a 3-0 final over Albertus Magnus College on Thursday night at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Mitchell won by set scores of 25-16, 25-13 and 25-14 to improve to 2-1 overall. Claire Binfield led the Mariners with match highs of seven kills, 19 assists, seven digs and five service aces. Olivia DeLoach and Molly Steel-Miller added six kills apiece, with the former also contributing five aces.

Elayna Beutel paced Albertus Magnus (0-4 overall) with seven kills. Ivanna Sanfeliz came off the bench to add six kills and two blocks.

The Falcons jumped out to a 4-1 lead to start the match and didn't trail in the opening set until a kill by Steel-Miller gave Mitchell a 16-15 edge. Albertus tied the score on the ensuing rally thanks to a kill by Diana Kalman, but the Mariners erupted for nine straight points on the serve of Bree Rudolph to close out the set. 

The late spree set the tone for the remainder of the match, as Mitchell broke open the second set with a 7-1 run that included kills by Steel-Miller, Ciera Moore and Rudolph. The Mariners cruised to the finish as Binfield racked up three kills in the final four points.

Binfield served Mitchell to a 4-0 start in the third, and the hosts never trailed in the set. Rudolph contributed three kills as the Mariners built the lead to 11-1 and never looked back. 

Mitchell will next play a tri-match at Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday, September 11. The Mariners face Pratt Institute at 1 p.m. and MMA at 3 p.m.