November 13, 2008
Springfield Cruises Past Maine Maritime In NCAA Volleyball First Round
MEDFORD, Mass. -- The Springfield College Pride were too much
for the Maine Maritime Academy Mariners to handle, as the Pride
swept the Mariners 3-0 (25-10, 25-16, 25-10) in a first-round match
of the 2008 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship on
Thursday afternoon at the New England Regional hosted by Tufts
University.
The Mariners tallied the first point of the first set, but that
would be the only lead that they would hold as the Pride came back
with eight straight to take an 8-1 lead. From that point, Maine
Maritime would not get any closer than six points. The Pride's lead
continued to grow throughout the set, eventually ending in a 25-10
first set victory.
Maine Maritime kept the second set close, tying the score on three
separate occasions at 11, 13 and 14 apiece. Springfield kicked it
back into gear, closing the set by winning 11 of the final 13
points for the 25-16 second set win.
The third set started off with two straight points from Maine
Maritime as they built their largest lead of the match at 2-0. Once
again Springfield used a run to vault ahead to a 10-2 advantage.
The Pride's lead grew to as many as 16 points and the set ended
with a 15-point victory at 25-10 to earn the match sweep.
Sophomore Heather Lively (Royalston, MA) led the Pride with 17
kills for the match, while sophomore Kelsea Hellyar (Fairhaven, MA)
recorded a match-high 26 assists. Senior Aylene Ilkson (Baldwin,
NY) was the digs leader for Springfield with 10, and she also added
two service aces. Senior Jessica Baldwin (Fairport, N.Y.) served
four aces.
Junior Amy Young (Cumberland, ME) paced the Mariners with five
kills and one service ace. The match-leader in digs was freshman
Lauren Sakahara (Bellevue, WA) with 13. Freshman Heather Moore
(Macedon, NY) added seven assists, while junior Katherine McMillan
(Belfast, ME) chipped in with one service ace and three digs.
Springfield will face Williams in the New England Regional
semifinals of the 2008 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball
Championship on Friday afternoon at 4:30 pm inside of Cousens
Gymnasium on the campus of Tufts University. The Ephs were also 3-0
winners in their first-round match, against Keene State College.
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