Wentworth Institute of Technology Athletics

Vaughn, Sanders Guide Women's Volleyball over WNE

Olivia Vaughn dishes 49 assists, a program-high in a four-set match, as Leopards best Golden Bears, 3-1

Photo by Gabriella Walazek '28
Photo by Gabriella Walazek '28
Box Score
September 25, 2024

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – In a tightly-contested, conference-opening match, the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team (9-5, 1-0 CNE) prevailed against the Western New England Golden Bears (9-3, 0-1 CNE) in a four-set battle as Olivia Vaughn set a new program record in a four-set match with her 49 assists. In addition, Emma Sanders matched her four-set program record marked just a season ago with her match-high 23 kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • The Leopards got off to a hot start, kicking out to a 9-2 lead in the opening frame with the help of four kills from Emma Sanders. A string of four kills by Kayla DeCastro continued the advantage to 15-6 before finishes by Helen Barthe and Clairissa Taylor helped pushed the lead to 18-11. The Golden Bears fought back, forcing a 20-16 score, but finishes by Sanders and Riley Schoonmaker helped Wentworth claim a 25-19 set win.
  • WNE started the second set with a 5-1 advantage and later carried the lead to 8-4. The Leopards clawed back as kills by Sanders, Schoonmaker, DeCastro, and Barthe cut the deficit to just one, eventually reaching a 11-10 score. The Golden Bears outpaced the Black & Gold the rest of the way, with a finish by Sanders keeping things close at 17-15 before the hosts grabbed a 25-18 set win.
  • The two teams swapped scores to open the third set, with the Golden Bears taking a 7-5 edge before a finish by DeCastro knotted the score at seven aside. A finish by Taylor helped mark a 12-10 lead before two kills from Sanders and another from DeCastro extended the lead to 20-13. A flurry of errors earned Wentworth a 25-15 set win.
  • An ace from Vaughn helped cap a 5-3 lead for Wentworth to start the fourth frame before two kills from Sanders marked an 8-5 advantage. The Golden Bears made things tight before a kill from Taylor marked a 15-13 lead later on. The two teams juked out points, with the Leopards later taking a 22-20 lead on an error. WNE battled back, but a kill from Sanders capped a 25-22 set win.

SERIES NOTES:

  • Wentworth has taken eight of the last nine matchups between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

  • The Leopards host Salem State in non-conference play Friday night.

 

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