Western recovers from slow start for 3-1 win over Johnson & Wales
DANBURY, CT (Sep. 3) — After letting game one slip away, losing by the score of 25-23, the Western Connecticut State University volleyball team rebounded to take the next three games in the opening match on day two of the Western Invitational at Feldman Arena.
The score remained close early in game one, but at 13-13 sophomore Melanie Lombardi (Danbury, CT) stepped to the line and delivered two aces in three points for a 16-13 Western lead. When freshman Heather Williams (Kingston, NY) put the ball away to stretch the lead to 21-15, the Colonials appeared to be in control of game one, but Johnson & Wales stormed back to tie the score at 22-22. Western stopped the Wildcats’ run to take a 23-22 lead, but Johnson & Wales took the next three points to win game one 25-23.
In game two, a kill by Lombardi and two by junior Paxton Thornton (Sharon, CT) helped turn a 17-17 tie into a 22-18 Western lead. Unlike game one, the Colonials held their advantage and took game two 25-20.
Johnson & Wales took an early 3-1 lead in game three, but aces by Thornton and sophomore Rachel Volpe (Southington, CT) helped lead Western into the lead at 10-6. Three kills by senior Michelle Hearns (Bedford Hills, NY) stretched the Western lead to 20-13, and on game-point freshman Nina Wojtkiewicz (Griswold, CT) delivered a service ace to close out the 25-15 win.
The Colonials had a strong start to game four and never looked back. After posting leads of 3-0 and 10-3, a Lombardi kill and another Volpe ace put Western up 18-7. A Thornton block earned Western match-point, and on the next point Thornton delivered her 15th kill to close out the game, 25-10, and the match, 3-1.
For the match, Thorton led Western with 15 kills, followed by Lombardi with 13. Senior Kelley Collins (Massapequa, NY) had 25 digs to go with 17 from Thornton, while freshman Jennifer Hogan (Franklin Square, NY) handed out 37 assists. Leading Johnson & Wales were Audry Warren (Haverhill, MA) with five kills, two blocks, and two service aces, Julie Snarr (Glen Allen, VA) with 14 assists, and Giselle Cram-Ortiz (Vega Alta, Puerto, Rico) with 18 digs.
With the win, Western moves to 2-0 on the season, while Johnson & Wales falls to 0-2. Action at Feldman Arena continues throughout the day on Saturday and will conclude with Western facing Brandeis at 4:30pm.
Western - 23 25 25 25 - 3
Johnson & Wales - 25 13 15 21 - 1
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