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.