The William and Mary volleyball team closed out its weekend with another impressive victory, downing host Kent State 3-1 to finish second at the Kent State/Mizuno Invitational. With the win, the Tribe evens its record 4-4, while Kent State falls to 6-6.
Freshman Manon Murray (Greensboro, N.C.) led the way once again as she has all season long, scoring 21 kills with 15 digs for her second 20+ kill outing of the year. Classmate Carolina Rivas (Orlando, Fla.) once again averaged double-digit assists, dishing out 40 today to go with three kills and five digs. Libero Celine Alasomuka (Centreville, Va.) likewise continued her strong weekend, providing 21 digs, two aces, and four assists.
Also of note were the efforts of four hitters for the Tribe. Redshirt-freshman Paulette Grand Pre (Laguna Beach, Calif.) had nine kills and four digs, while classmate Monika Stanciauskas (Wheaton, Ill.) had seven kills and a team-high two blocks. Sophomore Julia Swalchick (Melbourne, Fla.) paired eight kills and eight digs, and added another ace, while junior Shaylin O'Connell (Leesburg, Va.) had another eight kills on a .316 attack, and an ace of her own.
The Tribe again proved itself calm under pressure in the first frame, fighting off a pair of set points with kills from Grand Pre and O'Connell before claiming the set 27-25. Kent State rebounded to take the second set, and appeared in control of the third after taking a 22-18 lead. The College's rally took the personal form of Stanciauskas, as the rookie middle provided four of W&M's seven streight points to take the set 25-22.
The fourth set was tight early, but, holding onto a one-point lead at 11-10, Murray hit three kills in the next four points and added a fourth shortly thereafter to lead W&M on a 5-1 run to break open the set. Later, O'Connell had her own run of three-straight kills, and the Tribe was well on its way to a match-clinching 25-19 win.
William and Mary is back in action next weekend with the year's final in-season tournament, taking on Rhode Island, UMBC, and Penn in Philadelphia. The Tribe's first match will be at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, and be followed by two matches Saturday, at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Freshman Manon Murray (Greensboro, N.C.) led the way once again as she has all season long, scoring 21 kills with 15 digs for her second 20+ kill outing of the year. Classmate Carolina Rivas (Orlando, Fla.) once again averaged double-digit assists, dishing out 40 today to go with three kills and five digs. Libero Celine Alasomuka (Centreville, Va.) likewise continued her strong weekend, providing 21 digs, two aces, and four assists.
Also of note were the efforts of four hitters for the Tribe. Redshirt-freshman Paulette Grand Pre (Laguna Beach, Calif.) had nine kills and four digs, while classmate Monika Stanciauskas (Wheaton, Ill.) had seven kills and a team-high two blocks. Sophomore Julia Swalchick (Melbourne, Fla.) paired eight kills and eight digs, and added another ace, while junior Shaylin O'Connell (Leesburg, Va.) had another eight kills on a .316 attack, and an ace of her own.
The Tribe again proved itself calm under pressure in the first frame, fighting off a pair of set points with kills from Grand Pre and O'Connell before claiming the set 27-25. Kent State rebounded to take the second set, and appeared in control of the third after taking a 22-18 lead. The College's rally took the personal form of Stanciauskas, as the rookie middle provided four of W&M's seven streight points to take the set 25-22.
The fourth set was tight early, but, holding onto a one-point lead at 11-10, Murray hit three kills in the next four points and added a fourth shortly thereafter to lead W&M on a 5-1 run to break open the set. Later, O'Connell had her own run of three-straight kills, and the Tribe was well on its way to a match-clinching 25-19 win.
William and Mary is back in action next weekend with the year's final in-season tournament, taking on Rhode Island, UMBC, and Penn in Philadelphia. The Tribe's first match will be at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, and be followed by two matches Saturday, at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
