Volleyball Drops NECC Opener

HENNIKER, N.H. --The Mitchell College women's volleyball team opened up conference play on Wednesday night by falling to New England College in a five set marathon at Bridges Gymnasium in Henniker, New Hampshire.

The Mariners won the opening set 25-18, before dropping the ensuing two sets 25-18 and 29-17. Mitchell then took the fourth set 26-24, and eventually fell in the decisive set 15-13.

Senior Olivia DeLoach posted a double-double with 19 kills and 20 digs. Senior setter Claire Binfield also registered a double-double, dishing out 43 assists to go along with 18 digs. Molly Steel-Miller added 12 kills and Sarah Aviles had nine kills, while freshman libero Julia Lent had a team-high 27 digs. Sophomore Allison Blum was credited with six kills, eight service aces, and 15 digs.

The Mariners went ahead early in the opening set and scored 12 of 15 down to stretch to maintain their lead and cruise to an easy victory. The Pilgrims answered, going on multiple runs in the second set to gain control. New England College closed strong by scoring eight of the final 12 points to even the score at one game apiece.

The third set was neck and neck with the Mitchell knotting the score at 24-24 on a kill by Allison Blum. A bad set then put the Mariners up by one, however NEC peeled off five of the next seven to take the back the lead.

The fourth set mirrored the previous, with both teams trading the lead. With the score tied 24-24, consecutive attack errors by the Pilgrims handed the frame to the visiting team.

A kill by DeLoach tied the action up 6-6 midway through the final set. NEC jumped back ahead before Steel-Miller nailed a kill to again make it a one score set. Back to back NEC points then led to a Mitchell timeout. Two straight points by the Mariners trimmed the deficit to one, yet the Pilgrims plowed ahead, taking the win on an Amber Thi kill.

Thi paced the Pilgrims with a team-high 18 kills and 24 digs. Livia Elfering joined her in double figures with 11 kills, while Jaycie Kodama had 21 digs and Arianna Blazie Llamas was credited with 30 assists.

The Mariners (9-8 overall, 0-1 NECC) will continue conference play on Saturday, October 15, when they play at Lesley at 1:30 pm. New England College also will play an NECC opponent next, visiting Eastern Nazarene on Saturday, October 15, at 7:00 pm.