Volleyball Has No Answer for WCSU

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's volleyball team suffered were swept 3-0 in a non-conference match against Western Connecticut State University on Wednesday night at the Yarnall Athletic Center. The Wolves won by set scores of 25-16, 25-15, and 25-15. With the loss, the Mariners wrap up all of their out of conference games this season and have just two GNAC matches remaining on their schedule.

Junior Bliss Brown (Rainbow City, Ala.) delivered a team-high eight kills for Mitchell, while fellow junior Allison Blum (Garden Grove, Cali.) tallied eight. Brown added 13 digs and Blum 10, while sophomore Julia Lent (Miller Place, N.Y.) led the Mariners with 14. Lent has now recorded double-digit digs in all but one match this season, and is averaging 4.13 digs per set. Sophomore setter Jenna Blankenship (Virden, Ill.) handed out eight assists for the Mariners, who were unable to gain much traction against Wolves and led for only a brief moment when they took a 2-0 advantage to begin the second set.

Graduate student Taylor Rohan and freshman Julia Stoliker paced WCSU by recording 10 kills apiece, with hitting percentages of .471 and .375 respectively. Senior Olivia Monteleone had a productive night from the setter position, racking up 31 assists, while sophomore Sydney Slupatchuk was credited with a match-high 24 defensive digs. Stoliker and sophomore Jersey Jones also reached double-digit digs, each tallying 10.

The Mariners (7-16, 5-8 GNAC) will now turn their attention to the final weekend of the regular season, where they will face off against Saint Joseph's College (ME) and host Emmanuel College in a GNAC tri-match on Saturday, November 4th, with postseason positioning on the line. The Wolves (17-7, 5-2 LEC) will play host to Rhode Island College and Bard College on Saturday, November 4th.