BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology suffered two losses Saturday afternoon, first coming up short 3-0 to Susquehanna University, then falling 3-1 to Stevens Institute of Technology.
Susquehanna 3, Wentworth 0
Wentworth took an early lead 5-3 thanks to a pair of kills from freshman Abby Maher (North Granby, Conn.). After trading points, the River Hawks took five of six points to take a 10-8 lead. Susquehanna took control of the set from that point on, eventually going on a 12-2 run to and built a lead as large as 12 points. They were able to hold that lead to close out the opening set with a 25-13 win.
Two kills from junior Viviann Goulet (North Kingstown, R.I.) got the Leopards an early 4-3 lead to start off the second, but once again the River Hawks were able to overcome their early deficit. An 8-3 run helped them build a five point lead, but three service aces from Wentworth were part of five straight points to tie the set at 12. However, Susquehanna came back by winning six of the next seven to build their lead back. The Leopards were able to trim the deficit to two following two kills from junior Riley Waggoner (Simi Valley, Calif.), but the River Hawks took the final four points of the set to pick up a 25-19 decision in the middle frame.
A kill and service ace from Maher brought Wentworth to a 3-3 tie in the third, which was followed by the teams trading points with neither able to separate from the other. That changed when the River Hawks won six straight points, taking a 15-11 advantage. A kill by freshman Helen Barthe (Blythewood, S.C.) was part of a 7-1 run that saw the Leopards regain a two point lead at 18-16, but Susquehanna followed with four straight of their own. The River Hawks were able to hold their lead, going on to win 25-21 to pick up the 3-0 victory in the match.
Maher and Goulet tied for the team lead with seven kills each, and freshman Ashley Cao (Morrisville, N.C.) led the way with 15 assists and 13 digs.
Stevens 3, Wentworth 1
In their second match of the day, the Leopards jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead over Stevens thanks to four early kills from Edmiston. Following two points by the Ducks, three kills by Maher were part of a 7-2 run to build a 15-7 lead for Wentworth. Two kills by Barthe eventually put the lead at 10 points, and despite a late run from Stevens, the Leopards closed out the first set with a 25-17 win.
A kill by Waggoner had the second set tied at three, but Steven took the lead shortly after. Two kills by Edmiston helped Wentworth get within two points, but the Ducks followed with a 5-0 run to take a 15-8 lead. A pair of late kills from freshman Ema Thompson (Lewiston, Idaho) were not enough to get the Leopards back in the set, as they dropped set two 25-18.
Stevens took a 7-1 lead to start off the third and was able to maintain control of the set from there. A pair of kills from Edmiston got Wentworth to within four at 10-6, but the Ducks took four of the following five points to build the lead to seven. A pair of aces from Cao and Maher closed the gap to 20-15, which was followed by five straight points from Stevens to pick up the win and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Ducks took a similar early lead to start off the fourth, as they took an 8-2 advantage in the early going. They followed that up by winning eight of nine points in the middle of the set to extend the lead to 11, and despite a 6-1 run from the Leopards late, the deficit was too large to overcome as Wentworth dropped the final set 25-14 to close out the match.
Edmiston had a team-high 13 kills for Wentworth, and freshman Lexi Zabloudil (London, Ohio) led the way with 23 assists. Sophomore Megan Davies (Chandler, Ariz.) had eight digs on the day, leading the team.
THE SERIES:
This was the first ever meeting for Wentworth with either team, as Susquehanna and Stevens now both hold 1-0 records against the Leopards.
NEXT UP:
Wentworth returns to conference play this Tuesday, as the Leopards are on the road at Roger Williams University at 7:00 p.m.
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