Volleyball Takes Care of Curry
NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The Mitchell College women's volleyball team won for the second consecutive game on Saturday afternoon, defeating Curry College 3-1 at the Yarnall Athletic Center. The Mariners won the opening two sets by scores of 25-18 and 25-16. They then dropped the third set 25-18, before rebounding to take the fourth set 25-14.
Allison Blum led Mitchell with a double-double, registering 10 kills and 10 digs to go along with seven service aces. Olivia DeLoach tallied nine kills, including the 500th of her career with the Mariners. The senior also finished with a team-high 18 digs, while fellow senior Claire Binfield dished out a match-high 24 assists. Additionally, Molly Steel-Miller had a strong game for Mitchell with six kills and freshman libero Julia Lent continued her impressive play, racking up 12 digs.
Curry took an early lead in the first set, before the Mariners scored six of seven points to go from down one to up five. After giving the Colonels a point on an attack error, the Mitchell women put their foot on the gas, again scoring four straight points with Blum and DeLoach registering key kills. Curry would trim the lead to six, leading to a Mitchell timeout, however the home team closed strong, with Blum icing the set with another kill.
Mitchell jumped out to a commanding 12-0 lead in the second set behind five service aces by Blum. By the time Leah Oscar-Phoenix got a kill for Curry to end the run, it was too little too late. The Colonels did enjoy a 6-1 run to make the set 23-16, but two errors by the visiting squad gave Mitchell the set victory.
In the third set it was the Colonels turn to get out ahead, as they scored 10 oft he first 12 points. Back to back 3-0 runs for the Mariners got them close, but Curry held off any attack, taking the set by six points.
Mitchell began the fourth set on a 7-0 run, with DeLoach and Sarah Aviles picking up kills while Blum added another service ace. Mitchell maintained their lead throughout, earning the set win and getting strong play down the stretch from Aviles and Steel-Miller, who both were credited with clutch kills.
Lauren Guzman powered the Curry offense all afternoon, posting a match-high 21 kills in the loss.
Mitchell (8-5 overall) will return to action on Tuesday, October 4, when they make the trip across town to face the Connecticut College Camels. Curry College (3-12 overall) play next on Tuesday, October 4, at the University of New England.