CASTLETON, Vt.- The Vermont State University Castleton women's volleyball team fell twice Saturday afternoon to Western Connecticut State University 3-2 to open LEC play and to Russell Sage College 3-1.
With the losses, the Spartans fall to 5-4 and 0-1 in LEC play.
Game 1: WestConn 3, VTSU Castleton 2
Castleton started strong with Alondra Rojas (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) recording three straight service aces to start the match. The Spartans' next four points each came off kills by Olivia Smith (Newark, Ill.) Castleton ended up breezing through the set winning 25-13.
The Spartans held a 20-17 lead in the second set before the Wolves turned it around and went on an 8-1 run to win the set, 25-21.
Castleton responded in the third set, winning 25-16. Madison Sheehan (Queensbury, N.Y.) and Marley Hill (Austin, Texas) had three and two kills in the set, respectively.
Like the second set, the Spartans found themselves up late but close, this time 21-17. However, WestConn went on another big run, this time going on an 8-2 run to force a fifth set.
The Spartans saw themselves down 3-0 early in the set, before taking a 6-4 lead. Despite it being tied 9-9 at one point, the Wolves went on a 6-0 run to win the match.
Offensively, Sheehan led the way with 10 kills. Rojas recorded 34 assists, while Nicolette Vaughn (Plainfield, Ill.) posted 25 digs.
Game 2: Russell Sage 3, VTSU Castleton 1
The Spartans were down 9-3 early in the first set but were able to gain ground and take the lead. Despite serving for set point four times, they were unable to win the set, and Russell Sage scored three straight points to win the set, 30-28.
Down 24-18, Castleton scored seven points in a row, taking a 25-24 lead, before ultimately falling in the set, 29-27.
Castleton started strong in the third set, racing out to a 20-8 lead. Lilli Burrows (Yarmouth, Maine) had four kills in the set. Russell Sage did not go away quietly, and the Spartans failed to record consecutive points the rest of the set yet were still able to win 25-19.
The fourth set was close, being tied 9-9 at one point. However, the Gators proved to be overwhelming, winning the set 25-15 to win the match.
For the match, Burrows led with 11 kills. Rojas had 28 assists while Vaughn had 18 digs. For the two matches, Sheehan led with 17 kills, Rojas led with 62 assists, and Vaughn led with 43 digs.
Up next, the Spartans return to action this Wednesday at home when the face SUNY Cobleskill. First serve is set for 7 pm.
