Binfield Tallies 1000th Assist as Volleyball Outlasts Regis

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Junior Claire Binfield registered career assist number 1,000 on Wednesday night at the Yarnall Athletic Center, as the Mitchell College women's volleyball team outlasted Regis College in a five set marathon, 3-2. 

Binfield, who entered the evening with seven games with 20 or more assist this season, dished out a match-high 30 on Wednesday, helping the Mariners snap a three game losing skid. Binfield also reached double figures in digs with 12. 

Mitchell dropped the opening set of the night, 25-15, before rebounding to take the second set, 25-20. The Pride answered by coming away victorious in the third set by a final of 25-21, before the Mariners found their groove, stealing the fourth set 25-20, then taking the deciding series 15-11.

Senior Olivia DeLoach posted her seventh double-double of the year with a game-high 14 kills to go along with 15 digs and four service aces. Molly Steel-Miller added 10 kills for Mitchell, while Allison Blum had a strong performance with nine kills and 13 digs, and freshman libero Julia Lent tallied another double-digit dig night with a team-best 16.

After dropping the opening set, Mitchell used an 11-2 run to take control in set number two. DeLoach had two service aces and a kill during the run, and Steel-Miller capped the set with back to back service aces. 

The Mariners kept the score tight in the third set, cutting the Pride lead to one late, 22-21. However, three straight points by Regis closed out the set.

The fourth set remained close, with a service error allowing Regis to tie the score 7-7. Mitchell then scored eight of the next 11 points to regain momentum. Steel-Miller would force a fifth and deciding game with a kill to close out the fourth set.

The fifth set found both teams even through eight points, before the Mariners went on a 4-0 run leading to a Regis timeout. Shortly after, the Pride scored three straight to make it a two point game, but again the Mariners answered, as DeLoach and Sarah Aviles registered kills to lead the way. DeLoach closed the set with a kill, bringing to an end a highly contested barnburner.

Ayla Albers paced the Pride with 11 kills, while Ahnasia Mckinney was credited with 10 of her own. 

The Mariners (7-5 overall) will be back at the Yarnall Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon, when they host Curry College at 12:00 pm.