Women’s Volleyball Upends MCLA, 3-1

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Elms College junior middle hitter Christine Searles (Tolland, Mass.) smashed a match-high nine kills and junior libero Caitlin Larvey (Greenfield, Mass.) delivered a match-best 32 digs to help lift the Blazers to a (21-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-18) come-from-behind victory over MCLA in Thursday evening's non-conference women's volleyball match at the Amsler Campus Center on MCLA in North Adams, Mass.

With the win, Elms improves to 3-10 on the season, while MCLA moves to 5-4 overall.

After MCLA topped the Blazers, 25-21 in the first set, Elms answered back with a 26-24 win in set two, and won the next two frames (25-22 and 25-18) to post a 3-1 win in the contest.

The Blazers used a balanced attack, led by Searles' nine kills, while sophomore outside hitter Alexandra Mack (Wilbraham, Mass.) notched eight kills. Junior middle hitter JC Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) followed with seven kills and senior opposite hitter Rachel Cowan (Ellington, Conn.) added six kills in the win.

Larvey led the defensive output for Elms with her 32 digs, while Mack contributed 18 digs and Pickett notched 14 digs. Sophomore setter Shannon Bolton (Shelton, Conn.) paced the Blazers with 21 assists and Cowan served up four aces to help fuel the win.

MCLA was led by a six-kill effort from Sam Barbarotta (Pittsfield, Mass.) and Sam Anderson (Floral Park, N.Y.). Barbarotta was also the team leader in digs with 13, while Amanda Fleming (Tewksbury, Mass.) followed with nine digs in the losing effort.

Setters Allie Chang (Northport, N.Y.) and Courtney Parent (South Deerfield, Mass.) dished out eight and seven assists respectively and Chang chipped in four service aces for the Trailblazers.

Elms is back in action on Wednesday, September 25 when it travels to Pine Manor College for a 7:00 p.m. contest.