Western tops Brandeis 3-0 to cap a perfect opening weekend
DANBURY, CT (Sep. 3) — Twice the Western Connecticut State University volleyball team found itself down 24-23 (game-point) against Brandeis University in Saturday’s final match of the Western Invitational. Twice the Colonials rallied in overtime to take the victory and earn a hard-fought 3-0 win over Brandeis at Feldman Arena, and finish with a perfect 3-0 record for the weekend.
Game one was tightly contested throughout, but with Western holding a slim 8-7 lead, senior Kelley Collins (Massapequa, NY) stepped the line and served two straight aces to extend the lead to 10-7. Brandeis scored four of the next five points to even the score, and finally took the lead at 19-18, prompting a Western timeout. Brandeis widened the margin to two points at 23-21, but junior Paxton Thornton (Sharon, CT) kept the Western hopes alive with a kill through the middle of the Brandeis defense. Facing game-point and down 24-23, a block by freshman Heather Williams (Kingston, NY) forced overtime, and the Colonials took the next two points for a 26-24 win.
The scoring was again very close in game two, but at 16-16 freshman Nina Wojtkiewicz (Griswold, CT) hit a kill for a 17-16 Western lead, and then stepped to the service line where she won the next four points, including two aces. The five-point margin was enough to carry Western to a 25-19 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
Like the first two games, the scoring in game three was very even, and again Western appeared to take the advantage after the score was tied 16-all, pulling away for a 21-17 lead. After a Brandeis timeout, the Judges responded by taking six of the next seven points and a 23-22 lead. For the second time in the match Western was down 24-23 (game-point), and this time the hero was Thornton, whose kill tied the score at 24-24. Thornton continued her heroics in overtime, hitting three more kills as Western prevailed 28-26, taking game three and the 3-0 win for the match
For the match, Thorton led Western with 18 kills, Collins had 23 digs, and freshman Jennifer Hogan (Franklin Square, NY) handed out 35 assists. At the conclusion of the match, Thornton was named the tournament’s MVP, while Hogan was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
With the win, Western moves to 3-0 on the season, while Brandeis begins the season with a 2-1 record. Western returns to action on Tuesday, September 6th, when it hosts Baruch College at Feldman Arena. The match is schedule to begin at 7:00pm.
Western - 26 25 28 - 3
Brandeis - 24 19 26 - 0
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