WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL UPSETS MOUNT IDA, 3-0 IN GNAC QUARTERFINALS
Nov. 2, 2010
NEWTON, Mass. - For the fourth time in as many years, the Mount Ida College women's volleyball team was knocked out in the opening round of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) post-season tournament falling to the hands of visiting fifth seeded Emmanuel College 3-0 by scores of 25-21, 25-12, and 25-11.
The Mustangs took a quick 4-1 advantage to start the action in game one following a couple of errors by the Saints. The visitors knotted the game up at 4-4 after three consecutive Mount Ida errors. It went back and forth for the bulk of the action with only two points separating the teams until the end of the set. Emmanuel took a 7-6 lead after a solo block by Rebecca Stanton (Quincy, MA/North Quincy). Mount Ida came back to regain the advantage up 11-10 after another Emmanuel error. Four more ties put the game at 14-14 while both squads refused to back off each other. The visitor eventually went up by two only to relinquish the advantage immediately after a blast by Mustang sophomore Jennifer Ferreira (Shirley, MA/Ayer) up 19-18. The Saints eventually retook the lead up 20-19 after another Stanton kill. Emmanuel would score the next five out of seven points taking the 25-21 game one win up 1-0 in the match.
Game two didn't bode well for the Mustangs. After going ahead on the first point off a blasted kill by sophomore Christine Gallart (Germantown, MD/St. John's College HS), Mount Ida would fall behind quickly on consecutive points for the visitors due to a slew of host errors trailing 8-6. Mount Ida found themselves dug into even more of a hole after the Saints went on a 8-0 run towards the middle of the set to take a commanding 22-10 lead after a service ace by sophomore Samantha Andazola (Queen Creek, AZ/Mountain View). The Mustangs could only muster two more points for the rest of the set while the visitors sealed a 25-12 game two win to lead 2-0 in the match.
The visitors pounded in the final couple of nails in Mount Ida's coffin in game three. Never trailing during the set, the Saints jumped ahead 7-4 followed by a solo block from sophomore Moriah Logan (Halifax, MA/Silver Lake Regional). The pressure was applied even harder by the visitors piling on the points due to precision offense and a handful of Mount Ida errors to lead 15-6. Mount Ida only tallied six more points for the set while the visitors cruised to the 25-11 game three win and ultimately the 3-0 quarterfinal sweep eliminating Mount Ida from post-season stardom.
The Mustangs were led offensively by sophomore Devyn Frank (Mystic, CT/Fitch) with seven kills while senior Chelsea Darnell (Dublin, OH/Dublin Scioto) added eight digs. Senior setter Kira Feeter (Keene, NH/Keene) dished out nine assists.
The visitors were led by solid overall play from Stanton who recorded 13 kills and eight total blocks for the match. Junior Jenna Ross (Centerburg, OH/Centerburg) showcased eight kills and 12 digs while Andazola added 12 digs of her own. Junior setter Kathryne Olsen (Fairhaven, MA/Fairhaven) dished out 27 assists as well.
The Mustangs close out their 2010 season with an impressive 21-8 overall record while the Saints advance to the semifinal round against Johnson & Wales University that will be played in Providence, Rhode Island this coming Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
-Courtesy of Mount Ida Athletics