Mitchell College Outlasts Women’s Volleyball, 3-1

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Elms College sophomore middle hitter JC Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) totaled nine kills and freshman outside hitter Alexandra Mack (Wilbraham, Mass.) led the team with 19 digs but the Blazers suffered a 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18) loss to Mitchell College in Wednesday evening's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) women's volleyball match at Yarnall Gym in New London, Conn.

With the loss, Elms moves to 2-15 on the season, 0-3 in NECC play, while Mitchell improves to 6-8 overall, 3-1 in conference action.

After falling behind, 1-0 in the match, Elms battled back to even the contest at one set apiece highlighted by a 3-1 run with the score set at 22-21 in favor of the Blazers. Elms used a service error by Mitchell, a service ace by junior middle hitter Rachel Cowan (Ellington, Conn.) and a kill by sophomore middle hitter Christine Searles (Tolland, Mass.) to secure a 25-22 victory in the second frame.

In the third stanza, the Mariners posted a 22-18 advantage before Elms battled back using a Pickett kill and a Mitchell attacking error to set the score at 23-20. From there, the Blazers suffered back-to-back attacking errors as Mitchell sealed a 25-20 victory and took a 2-1 lead in the match.

In the fourth set, Mitchell roared to a 21-11 lead before Elms rallied to within five at 23-18, but kills by the Mariners' Kendra Erskine (Bronx, N.Y.) and Gloria Charles (New Haven, Conn.) propelled Mitchell to a 3-1 victory in the contest.

Charles floored a match-high 14 kills, while Erskine, Arianna Thomas (Fresno, Calif.) and Amanda Garcia (New Britain, Conn.) added nine kills each to help direct the Mariners' attack.

Kaisea Caramante (Old Lyme, Conn.) led four Mitchell players with double-digit digs with 22, followed by Thomas' 17 and 13 each from Charles and Nicole Terni (Ledyard, Conn.). Terni also handed out a match-best 37 assists and Charles served up four aces to help the Mariners to their third conference win of the season.

Pickett downed nine kills, while senior outside hitter Christina Martin (Chicopee, Mass.) and Searles finished with seven and six kills respectively for Elms in the loss.

Mack was terrific on the defensive end notching 19 digs, followed by 14 from sophomore libero Caitlyn Larvey (Greenfield, Mass.), 13 from Pickett and 11 digs each from Martin and freshman setter Shannon Bolton (Shelton, Conn.) to round out five players with double-digit digs.

Bolton dished out 11 assists in addition to her 11 digs, and senior setter Erika Murphy (Torrington, Conn.) distributed 12 assists in the losing effort.

Elms returns to NECC play on Saturday, Oct. 13 when it hosts Newbury College at 1:00 p.m. at Picknelly Arena.