CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton University women's volleyball team won its third match in a row on Saturday afternoon, sweeping Nichols at Glenbrook Gym by a final score of 3-0.
 
Castleton's winning streak is its longest since the 2017 season as the Spartans push their record to 3-2 on the year following the 27-25, 25-21, 25-19 victory. Nichols falls to 1-2 on the season after dropping its second straight match. The Spartans dominated the stat sheet, holding a 35-32 advantage in kills, 33-30 advantage in assists, 10-5 edge in service aces and 7-4 edge in blocks. Nichols recorded a 68-64 lead in the digs category, though Castleton registered seven more total attacks than the Bison.
 
 
The Spartans rode powerful offensive performances from Lizzie Goodrich and Hailey Martinovich to victory, while Martinovich, Jen Halliday and Mackenzie Wade all turned in double-digit digs on defense. Goodrich racked up 13 kills and five block assists for Castleton in addition to one solo block. Martinovich tallied seven kills and 12 digs in the victory with an ace to her line as well. Bre MacDuff added four kills to her 23 assists and eight digs, while Halliday had 14 digs and five service aces off the bench.  Wade compiled 10 digs and a pair of aces of her own.
 
Nichols was led by 10 kills from Rylee Plourde on offense and 29 digs from Jen Diorio on defense. Rachael Veilleux added nine digs and 22 assists in the loss, while Haylee Granata—who entered the afternoon averaging nearly five kills per set—was held to just six kills with seven digs.
 
The first set was a nail-biter, going to extra points and ending with Castleton on top, 27-25. Castleton faced set-point, 24-20, late in the frame, but a kill by Vanessa LeBrun kept the Spartans alive, 24-21, and brought MacDuff on to serve. The senior helped serve Castleton to three consecutive points and a 24-24 tie before Nichols forced a side-out to go ahead 25-24. After kills by Goodrich and MacDuff put Castleton ahead 26-25, Halliday closed out the set with an ace for Castleton.
 
The second set saw Castleton race out to an 8-1 lead, but Nichols chipped away at the lead until the score was level at 16-16. The Bison took a pair of one-point leads as the teams traded points, but Castleton held off the late charge from Nichols to take a two-set lead, 25-21.
 
The Spartans scored the first three points of the third set, getting out in front early and never trailing on their way to a 25-19 win in the final frame.
 
Castleton returns to action Wednesday night at Union (N.Y.) with a 6 p.m. match.