Volleyball cruises to 3-0 sweep over Castleton

North Adams, MA- The MCLA Volleyball team earned a 3-0 sweep over Castleton University in nonconference action tonight at the Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium 25-16, 25-20, 25-20. With the victory the Trailblazers improve to 12-6 on the season while the Spartans fall to 4-15.

The first set was tightly contested with neither team able to create any separation until a Shannon O'Brien (Unionville, CT) service ace would give MCLA a 16-12 advantage forcing a Castleton timeout. The Spartans would respond taking the next two points but from there it was all Trailblazers. MCLA would go on a 9-2 run to close out the set winning it 25-16.

The Trailblazers would keep the momentum to begin the second set jumping out to an early 7-1 advantage. At 10-6 Castleton would call a timeout and again respond taking the next four points. The two teams would be tied again at 16-16 before another set winning run (9-4) capped off by a Chloie Garber (Eagle River, AK) kill would give MCLA a commanding 2-0 lead.

Another Garber kill would make it 10-5 to start the third set but Castleton fought back to cut the deficit to one at 10-9. MCLA stretched the lead to 17-11 but the Spartans would catch the Trailblazers at 17-all. As they had done in the previous two sets, MCLA would close thigs out on an impressive 8-3 run and an Elizabeth Brown (Lee, MA) kill would end the match.

Garber would lead the Trailblazers with 13 kills, 6 digs and 3 aces. Brown would add 8 kills and 15 digs. O'Brien had 16 assists and a game-high 6 aces. Anais Badio (Las Vegas, NV) would chip in 8 kills, 8 digs and 5 aces. Ellie Walter-Goodspeed (Auburn, WA) had a game-high 25 digs while Victoria Tynan (Pittsfield, MA) had a game-high 19 assists.

For Castleton Haile Martinovich (Rochester, NY) had 15 kills and 14 digs while Denasia Pompey (Argyle, NY) with 21 digs and Maddie Delsignore (Queensbury, NY) with 21 assists also led the Spartans in the losing effort.

Both teams return to conference action Saturday at 1pm with Castleton hosting Plymouth State and MCLA visiting MASCAC rival Salem State.