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Volleyball Take Down Norwich, Earn Split of Tri-Match on the Road

Beth Harris had a game-high five aces in the Trailblazer's matchup with Bay Path this afternoon.
Beth Harris had a game-high five aces in the Trailblazer's matchup with Bay Path this afternoon.

NORTHFIELD, Vt.—The MCLA Volleyball team broke through to pick up their first win of the season this afternoon as part of a tri-match hosted by Norwich University at Andrews Hall. The Trailblazers dropped their first game of the afternoon, falling to the Regis College Pride 3-1, but stormed back to take their second match of the day over the hosting Cadets by the same 3-1 score.

MATCH #1:

  • Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
  • Score: Regis 3, MCLA 1
  • Records: Regis College Pride 8-3 (GNAC 1-0) | MCLA Trailblazers 0-7 (MASCAC 0-0)
  • Series History: The all-time series is tied 2-2, with two results unknown. The Pride won the last meeting on September 26, 2016, by a score of 3-0 at Regis. MCLA won the first meeting 3-0 on October 23, 1979.

WHAT HAPPENED (Game #1)

  • The teams split the first two sets, with Regis taking the first set 25-15 before MCLA responded by taking the second set 25-18. The final two sets both went to the Pride by scores of 25-16 and 25-15.
  • Junior outside hitter Elizabeth Brown (Lee, MA) recorded a team-high eight kills to go with a service ace and an assisted block to finish with a team-high 9.5 points. Fellow junior outside hitter Audrey Melson (Champlin Park, MN) finished with seven kills.
  • The Trailblazers had ten service aces, getting two each from Chloie Garber (Eagle River, AK), Julia Graham (Chittenango, NY), and Beth Harris (San Antonio, TX).
  • For the Pride, Avery Mola had a game-high 13 kills and ten more from Ayla Albers. Ahnasia Mckinney added 15 points on nine kills, five service aces, and two assisted blocks, trailing only Mola's 15.5 game-high point total.

MATCH #2:

  • Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
  • Score: MCLA 3, Norwich 1
  • Records: MCLA Trailblazers 1-7 (MASCAC 0-0) | Norwich University Cadets 1-7 (GNAC 0-1)
  • Series History: Norwich leads the all-time series 10-6, including a 3-0 home victory by MCLA in the last meeting on September 9, 2023. Norwich took the first meeting 3-2 on October 18, 2007, at Norwich.

HIGHLIGHTS (Game #2)

  • MCLA took the first two sets by scores of 25-19 and 25-16. The Cadets held off a sweep by taking the third set 25-21, but then the Trailblazers rolled in the fourth set 25-13.
  • Brown finished with a game-high 14 kills but trailed only Garber's 15.5 points on 11 kills, four aces, and an assisted block for MCLA.
  • Junior setter Shannon O'Brien (Unionville, CT) had a season-high 22 assists for the Trailblazers.
  • With a game-high 23 digs, MCLA's Ezmeralda Albright (Loves Park, IL) paced the defensive effort for the Trailblazers. The visitors would finish with a 64-56 advantage in the digs category.
  • As part of her team-high 11 points, Norwich's Bella Belinda Ray had seven kills and four service aces. Ava Nihill and Autumn Parkhurst led the hosts with 10 assists each.

UP NEXT:

On Tuesday, MCLA will be back in action when they travel to New England College for a non-conference matchup with the Pilgrims at Bridges Gym. The match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.