KEENE, N.H. (Oct. 13, 2012) – The Mount Holyoke College volleyball team shouldered a pair of losses at the Little East/NEWMAC Challenge, hosted by Keene State on Saturday. The Lyons fell to the host Owls by a 3-0 margin and were later tripped up, 3-0 by Plymouth State University.
Against the Owls, junior outside hitter Martina Kneifel (Oro Valley, Ariz./Canyon del Oro) recorded a team-best nine kills and 11 digs. First year Emma Sweeting (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hastings), also an outside hitter, added seven kills with six digs and two service aces.
Sophomore setter Stephany Yang (Glen Allen, Va./Henrico) chipped in with a squad-high 15 assists, while classmate Kaleen Iwema (Wadsworth, Ill./Warren Township), the libero, added 11 digs.
It was close in the first set of action as Mount Holyoke pushed it right to the brink, but the Owls battled for the 25-20 win. Sets two and three saw the Lyons continue to fight, but Keene State, which was led by a game-best 13 kills from Angela Silveri, came away with the 25-18 and 25-15 set wins.
Against the Panthers, the Lyons continued to battle, but could not overcome the stong effort by Plymouth State as Casey Stoodley posted a game-high 17 kills. Cassie Pelton added 14 digs, while Kirsten Perrotta (15) and Hannah Anderson (14) combined for 29 assists.
For Mount Holyoke, Sweeting posted 10 kills, while Kneifel added seven kills and a game-best 21 digs. Iwema chipped in with 15 digs, while Yang had 18 assists and 11 digs. Junior captain Kristina Weld added four kills and two service aces.
Mount Holyoke returns to the court on Tuesday with a NEWMAC contest at Coast Guard Academy at 7pm. The Lyons will then welcome Colby, Bridgewater State and Westfield State to the Mildred Howard Gymnasium for the 2012 Volleyball Hall of Fame Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
