SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Led by 14 kills from sophomore Martina Kneifel, the Mount Holyoke volleyball team earned a split in tri-match action at Mildred S. Howard Gymnasium on Saturday. The Lyons defeated Elms, 3-0 to open the day, but later fell to Connecticut College, 3-0 in the final match. In the middle match, the Camels claimed victory over the Blazers to go 2-0 on the day.
Game one saw the homestanding Lyons (2-5; 0-3 NEWMAC) post a solid effort, defeating the Blazers with set scores of 25-14, 25-13 and 25-11. Kneifel (Oro Valley, Ariz./Canyon del Oro), first year Emma Sweeting (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hastings) and junior captain Kristina Weld (Warwick, Mass./Pioneer Valley Regional) each recorded seven kills, while Kneifel and Sweeting added three service aces apiece. Sophomore Kaleen Iwema (Wadsworth, Ill./Warren Township) had a game-best 23 digs, while first year Gaby Harrigan (San Jan, Puerto Rico/Robinson School) chipped in with a game-high 12 assists.
For the Blazers (0-12; 0-0 NECC), first year Alexandra Mack (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) had five kills and seven digs, while sophomore Caitlyn Larvey (Greenfield, Mass./Greenfield) and senior Christina Martin (Chicopee, Mass./Chicopee Comprehensive) added 13 and 10 digs, respectively. First year Shannon Bolton (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) rounded out the solid efforts with 10 assists.
Against Connecticut College, the Lyons faced a tough challenge, but continued to fight till the end. Kneifel continued to pace Mount Holyoke's effort, posting seven kills with four digs. Harrigan recorded 16 assists and three digs, while Sweeting added 12 digs and four kills in the match.
The Camels received a number of contributions from their lineup, led by nine kills from first year Cailyn Straubel (Dallas, Texas/Hockaday School). First year Melissa Kohl (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Chadwick) and sophomore Anelise Hohl (Atherton, Calif./Menlo School) each chipped in with five kills apiece, while senior Rachel Schroff (Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes) recorded a game-best 20 assists and three block solos.
Mount Holyoke returns to the court on Tuesday at Babson for a NEWMAC game at 7pm. Elms is also in action on Tuesday hosting Pine Manor at 6pm, while Connecticut College hosts Eastern Connecticut at 7pm, also on Tuesday.
