WESTFIELD, Mass. - Senior captain Jamesa Allen laid down a game-best 16 kills to lead the Mount Holyoke College volleyball team to a 3-0 victory at Westfield State University on Thursday evening. Posting scores of 25-15, 25-21 and 25-20, the Lyons move to 5-2 on the season, while the homestanding Owls slipped to 0-9.
In addition to Allen's (Orlando, Fla. / Lake Nona) kills, junior middle hitter Sasha Simine (Kitchener, Ont. / Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute) finished with seven strikes and just one error for a .500 percentage. Sophomore setter Brayden Walden (McKinney, Texas / McKinney North) set 29 assists, while Cameron Graham (Sarasota, Fla. / The Out of Door Academy) came up with 15 digs.
Westfield State's Ally Rega (Chelmsford, Mass.) had 28 assists and Brianna Starkey (Rockland, Mass.) finished with 14 kills. Ainsley MacLeod (Minnechaug/Hampden, Mass.) added seven kills, and Jess Haradon (Mansfield, Mass.) led with 14 digs.
In the opening set, MHC jumped out to a quick lead, but the Owls tied it at 6-all on a kill from MacLeod. The Lyons countered with a kill from Simine, followed by back to back errors for the home team that gave the visitors a lead it would not relinquish in the frame.
The second set saw the Lyons looking to pull back in as the Owls owned a 10-8 advantage mid-way. Kills from Graham and first year Sarah Bishop (Rutland, Mass./Wachusett Regional) tied it at 11-all followed by subsequent errors to give MHC the lead. Despite an 18-14 edge, the Lyons fell victim to several errors as Westfield State tied the set 18-all. A kill from Allen and two from Simine helped seal the victory.
In the third frame, Westfield State opened a 10-8 lead following a kill from MacLeod. Three straight kills from Starkey pushed the difference to 16-12, but the Lyons roared back with a five-point run to force a 19-all tie. Another four-point run put the visitors ahead for good as Allen wrapped up the set and match victory with three straight kills.
Westfield will be back in action on Saturday with a tri-match with Roger Williams at Rivier (N.H.) College. Mount Holyoke will next host Wellesley on Saturday to open conference ply at 2pm.
