CASTLETON, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's volleyball team fell in a hard-fought battle to Little East opponent Plymouth, 3-0.
 
The Spartans honored their two seniors, Hailey Martinovich and Vanessa LeBrun prior to Saturday morning's match. Martinovich led the Spartans with eight kills on the day, contributing five digs. Alondra Rojas dished out 17 assists, adding eight digs and four aces on the day, with 74 total on the year, leading the Little East.
 
The Panthers jumped out to an 8-0 lead to start the first set, before the Spartans found their rhythm and were able to lessen the lead to four. The Panther's offense did not let up through the rest of the first set, with Nora Ryan and Ryley McNeeley setting the pace for the Panthers. The Panthers took set one 25-18.
 
The second set was back-and-forth to start before the Panthers pulled out to an 11-5 lead. Kaitlyn Chapman ended the Panther's run with a kill. The Spartans pulled within three at 21-18 before the Panthers finished the set 25-19.
 
The Spartans started the third set on a 3-0 run, with Rojas serving up two aces. The two teams were neck and neck until the Panthers went on a 5-0 run to lead by three. Martinovich notched a kill and Lillirose Prevost served up an ace to get the Spartans within one. The Panthers went on a 7-0 run to go up 22-10 in the final set. LeBrun and Jocelyn Ray put down their final kills of the day, but it wasn't enough and Plymouth took set three 25-12.
 
The Spartans are back in action next Saturday, October 26 at UMass Dartmouth at 11 a.m.