CASTLETON, Vt. – The Spartans couldn't handle a powerful MCLA offense in the first match of the day but came back to sweep Lyndon for the split on Saturday afternoon in Glenbrook Gym.

In the opener, Castleton jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the first set but the Trailblazers eventually took control on the way to a 25-14 win. The Trailblazers continued their strong play in the second set, earning a 25-11 victory. They took the final set by a 25-16 margin to secure the win.

Allison Clark led the MCLA offense with 12 kills on 19 attempts for a .632 attack percentage. Beatrice Lechler dished off a team-high 15 assists with seven digs and three kills while Courtney Parent had ten assists. Margaret Allen was second on the team with eight kills and hit .357.

Brittany Brayman hit a team-best .278 with seven kills and five digs while Michaela Babineauchipped in with five assists four digs and one ace. Alex Madsen added four assists, four digs and one ace while Amanda Chambers finished with a team-high six digs. 

Facing a Lyndon squad who beat them at the end of last year, it was the Hornets who actually came to strongest first. They took control early and were on the verge of winning the opening set, up 24-20. However, behind the serving of Amanda Chambers, Castleton came back to tie it at 24-24. They eventually won it 27-25 on back-to-back kills from Babineau and Cassidy Tedeschi.

The Spartans jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the second set and though Lyndon tied it up at 17 apiece, they held off the Hornets for the 25-22 victory. The final set was close early, but Castleton eventually pulled away for the 25-15 win.

The Spartans recorded 44 kills and hit .260 with 45 digs while limiting Lyndon to 29 kills and just 38 digs. Tedeschi led the offense by hitting .421 with 12 kills, three aces and four digs. Brayman added nine kills, ten digs and three aces while J'Leen Diaz chipped in with six kills and six digs while hitting .357. Madsen and Babineau each dished off 17 assists while Babineau added five digs.

Gwyneth Stahl anchored the Hornet offense with eight kills on 15 attempts for a .533 attack percentage. She also had 14 assists with four digs and two blocks. Laura Drake added 11 assists, eight kills and eight digs while Kelleigh Murtagh contributed six kills, three aces and seven digs.