NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team split a pair of matches on Saturday in a tri-match hosted by Norwich. The Leopards defeated MCLA, 3-0, before falling to the host Cadets, 3-1.

MATCH ONE:  Wentworth 3, MCLA 1
RECORDS:

• MCLA (4-2)
• Wentworth (2-2)

WENTWORTH STAT LEADERS:

• Kills – Helen Barthe, 9; Riley Waggoner, 5; Viviann Goulet, 5; Abby Warren 5
• Assists – Lexi Zabloudil, 12; Ashley Cao, 6
• Aces – Lexi Zabloudil, 5; Ema Thompson, 3
• Digs – Lexi Zabloudil, 4; Helen Barthe, 4; Ema Thompson 4
• Blocks – Riley Schoonmaker, 2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth jumped out to an 8-1 lead, with three of the eight points coming on kills from senior Riley Waggoner (Simi Valley, Calif.). After MCLA cut the lead to 9-5, the Leopards scored four of the next five points and took a 13-6 lead on a kill from sophomore Helen Barthe (Blythewood, S.C.). The Trailblazers batted back to come within three at 14-11, however, the Black & Gold used a 7-3 run to extend their lead and took the first set, 25-16.
• Hitting a match-high .316 and forcing MCLA to hit -.278, Wentworth took a 2-0 lead in the second set with a 25-17 win. The Leopards scored the first four points of the set, only to be countered by a 5-0 Trailblazer run, giving them a 5-4 lead. Wentworth found itself trailing, 9-7, however, used an 11-3 run to take an 18-12 lead on a kill from senior Viviann Goulet (North Kingstown, R.I.). While the Trailblazers pulled within three at 19-16, Wentworth closed out the set on a 6-1 run, winning 25-17.
• The momentum from the set-ending run carried over into the third set where the Black & Gold scored the first six points of the set and took an 11-4 lead on a kill from freshman Shannon Raftery (Cumberland, R.I.). MCLA closed the gap to 15-13 but the Leopards used a 10-2 run to close out the match, taking the third set, 25-15.

MATCH TWO:  Norwich 3, Wentworth 1
RECORDS:

• Wentworth (2-3)
• Norwich (4-2)

WENTWORTH STAT LEADERS:

• Kills – Riley Waggoner, 12; Viviann Goulet, 6
• Assists – Lexi Zabloudil, 13; Ashley Cao, 7; Peyton Tague, 7
• Aces –Ema Thompson, 3
• Digs – Lexi Zabloudil, 5; Peyton Tage, 5
• Blocks – Riley Schoonmaker, 2; Viviann Goulet, 2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The host Cadets hit .700 in the opening frame, taking a 1-0 lead with a 25-14 win. Norwich fell behind 2-0, and used a 6-1 run to take a 6-3 lead. Wentworth pulled within a pair at 10-8 before the Cadets got some breathing room with a 13-8 lead. A 3-1 spurt with kills coming from sophomore Ashley Cao (Morrisville, N.C.), Waggoner, and Goulet brought the Black & Gold to within three at 14-11 but the hosts scored the next six points and didn't look back.
• Wentworth jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the second set on a kill from freshman Riley Schoonmaker (Montgomery, N.Y.). The Leopard lead swelled to 17-10 after a kill from Cao but the Cadets came back to come within four at 19-15. A kill from Waggoner and an attack error made it 21-15 in favor of the Black & Gold and started a 6-3 spurt, which gave the Leopards a 25-18 win, tying the match at a set apiece.
• Norwich scored the first four points of the third set, and never looked back, taking a 2-1 lead with a 25-14 win in the third set. The set saw the Cadets hit .474 and force Wentworth to hit -.056.
• The start of the fourth set was back-and-forth with Norwich leading, 3-1, before Wentworth taking a 6-5 lead on a kill from sophomore Lexi Zabloudil (London, Ohio). The teams traded 4-0 spurts, with a Cadet attack error giving Wentworth a 10-9 lead. Norwich scored the next four points to take a 13-10 lead and the four consecutive points started a 9-4 run which saw the hosts lead, 18-14. The Leopards clawed back with five of the next six points to tie the set at 19-all on a setting error before Norwich scored the next three, taking a 22-19 lead. Back-to-back errors pulled the Black & Gold within one at 22-21, however, Norwich scored the final three points of the set to take the 3-1 win.

THE SERIES:

• Wentworth's win over MCLA gives the Leopards a 4-0 advantage in the all-time series. The Leopards and Norwich met for the first time ever today.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth's home opener is Tuesday night against UMass Dartmouth.

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