Carolyn Cote sets up a kill attempt by Carole Duquette in Westfield’s season opening victory at Elms. (Photo by Mickey Curtis)
CHICOPEE – The Westfield State University women’s volleyball team opened the 2013 season by sweeping Elms College and Albertus Magnus College in first day action of of the Blazer Challenge on Friday, Aug. 30, at Picknelly Arena.
Elms (0-2) will take on Albertus Magnus College (0-2) on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 1:00 p.m, following the 11:00 a.m. matchup between SUNY Cobleskill (2-0) and Westfield State (2-0).
Westfield State 3, Elms 0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-16)
Westfield State soared to a 1-0 start to the season behind a six-kill effort from Lindsay Rescott (Northport, N.Y.) and Julia Warner (Lee, Mass.), while Warner added 10 digs. Kayleigh Shea (Chelmsford, Mass.) added a team-best 11 digs, while Carolyn Cote (Chelmsford, Mass.) dished out a match-high 20 assists in the winning effort.
The Owls recorded eight service aces and 10 assisted blocks including four from Casey Howe (Chelmsford, Mass.) to help seal the win.
Elms junior libero Caitlyn Larvey (Greenfield, Mass.) notched a match-best 14 digs, while junior opposite hitter JC Pickett (Springfield, Mass.) totaled a team-best six kills in the loss for the Blazers.
Westfield State 3, Albertus Magnus 0 (25-16, 25-5, 25-10)
The Owls delivered their second sweep of the afternoon behind a 19-kill output from Rescott and a 31-assist showing from Cote, who directed Westfield State to a stellar .393 hitting percentage. Warner added 14 digs and six kills, while Cote added four service aces to help clinch the victory.
Amy Seliga (East Haven, Conn.) floored four kills and Manning added three in the loss for the Falcons, while Dy handed out 11 assists and accounted for seven of the team’s 25 digs.
SUNY Cobleskill 3, Elms 0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-18)
The Fighting Tigers were led by Molly Hull’s (Binghamton, N.Y.) seven kills, while Amber Baker (Caroga Lake, N.Y.) and Kady Porterfield (Macdoel, Calif.) added six kills each in the win. Kim Cordova (Oneonta, N.Y.) and Katie Yang (Schenectady, N.Y.) paced the defensive effort with 12 digs each, while Yang chipped in 16 of the team’s 24 assists.
Junior middle hitter Christine Searles (Tolland, Mass.) sparked the Blazers’ attack with a team-best six kills, while sophomore middle hitter Joanna Krupa (Chicopee, Mass.) and sophomore outside hitter Alexandra Mack (Wilbraham, Mass.) added four kills each.
Sophomore setter Shannon Bolton (Shelton, Conn.) dished out nine helpers while, Larvey added 10 digs in the losing effort.
SUNY Cobleskill 3, Albertus Magnus 2 (25-19, 23-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-10)
SUNY Cobleskill and Albertus Magnus played a five-set contest that saw Baker lead all hitters with 15 kills and a team-best 19 digs for the Fighting Tigers. Hull followed with nine kills and Brandi Persico (Ravena, N.Y.) added eight in the winning effort. Yang dished out 27 helpers, while Persico and Cordova totaled 13 and 11 digs respectively.
Lily Dy (Torrington, Conn.) registered a match-high 31 assists and dug 11 balls, while Melissa Manning (Milford, Conn.) and Caitlin Prete (Milford, Conn.) ignited the offense with 14 and 10 kills each. Manning led all defenders with 22 digs, followed by 15 digs from Prete and 14 from Alyssa Puccilli (Milford, Conn.).
