Wentworth Institute of Technology Athletics

Women's Volleyball Downs Maine Maritime

Leopards rally past Mariners, 3-1, behind team-high 18 kills from Kate McLane; Gianna Cefalu notches 43 assists

Photo by Cooper Hodgeman
Photo by Cooper Hodgeman
Box Score
October 11, 2024

BOSTON, Mass. – For the second-straight match, Kate McLane led the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team (12-8) in kills (18) as the Leopards downed the visiting Maine Maritime Academy Mariners (7-8) in a four-set rally Friday night.

Emma Sanders followed close by with 16 finishes tacked on to nine digs. Gianna Cefalu facilitated the offense with 43 assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • The Mariners kicked out to a 4-2 lead in the opening frame before continuing the advantage to a 12-8 score. However, the Leopards rallied, taking a 13-12 edge with the help of two McLane kills. After being knotted at 14-all and later 17-all, the Mariners took a 21-17 lead before carrying it to an eventual 25-20 set win.
  • The Black & Gold opened the second set on a 12-2 run in the second set, including two kills from McLane and others from Cefalu and Clairissa Taylor, before a finish by Sanders later marked a 15-5 lead. Kills by Sanders, McLane, and Riley Schoonmaker helped the Leopards cruise to a 25-10 set win.
  • A finish by Sanders marked a 4-2 lead for Wentworth in the third set before a kill by Helen Barthe kickstarted a 4-0 run that extended the advantage to 11-5. The Leopards went on a late-set run, featuring finishes by Sanders, McLane, Taylor, and Cefalu, to grab hold of a 19-10 set lead. The Mariners cut the deficit, but, the Leopards held on for a 25-21 set win.
  • Wentworth struck out to a 6-2 lead in the fourth set with help on two kills apiece from McLane and Schoonmaker before a kill by Sanders later marked an 11-5 lead. Two finishes by McLane pushed the set to 16-9 before a kill by Sanders helped mark a 21-12 score. Kills from Barthe and Sanders ultimately help decide a 25-19 set win for the Leopards.

SERIES NOTES:

  • Tonight marked the first meeting between the two teams since 2014, as the Leopards lead the all-time series, 2-0.

NEXT UP:

  • Wentworth plays next versus Curry on Senior Day, taking place Saturday, October 19.

 

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