Women's Volleyball Closes Run at Cardinal Classic

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Elms College women's volleyball falls in their final two non-conference games at the 2016 Best Western Plus-Ground Round Cardinal Classic, battling Southern Vermont in a five-set defeat, and then fought through four sets against Utica at Memorial Hall Saturday night. The Blazers move to 1-9 on the season.

Match 1: Southern Vermont 3, Elms 2 (25-22, 22-25, 29-27, 27-29, 15-11)

In a preview of a future New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) matchup, the Blazers and the Mountaineers grinded through a five set battle, where Elms won the first set, 25-22, but Southern Vermont answered with a 25-22 win in the following set. The third and four set followed suit and went to extra points with each side collecting a 29-27 win to send the match to a fifth set. In the final set, the Mountaineers held off the Blazers to claim a 15-11 win.

The Blazers attack was powered by sophomore Danielle Redding (Las Vegas, Nev.) with a career-high 30 kills, paired with 13 digs and three service aces and three blocks. Freshman Hannah Adams (Deerfield, Mass.) posted career highs, racking up a 16 kills with 29 digs, paired with three aces and two blocks. Senior Carolyn Campbell (Millers Falls, Mass.) dished out a career-high 47 assists with 14 digs, while freshman Haley Asselin (South Hadley, Mass.) added seven kills and seven digs. Junior Kate Moriarty (Agawam, Mass.) grabbed 12 digs with four kills in the win.

Sophomore Sarah Billow (South Glen Falls, N.Y.) paced the Mountaineers with a double-double of a team-high 14 kills and 19 digs. Senior Brin Goldman (St. Croix, Virgin Islands) logged 25 assists, 12 digs and nine kills, while sophomore Lizzy Bench (St. Petersburg, Fla.) snared a match-high 41 digs. Freshman Gaby Oropeza (Riverside, Calif.) recorded 11 digs, a match-high six aces, and six kills, while freshman Tay Phillips (Stephentown, N.Y.) grabbed 25 digs with six kills.

Match 2: Utica 3, Elms 1 (25-22, 25-15, 20-25, 25-19)

Against the Pioneers, Redding and Adams led the Blazers attack each notched 10 kills apiece, while Adams added 14 digs and three aces, and Redding added seven digs and two aces. Campbell registered 20 assists and five digs, while Moriarty had six kills and two digs. Senior Alicia Beaupre (Belchertown, Mass.) tallied a career-high 10 digs in the loss. Redding was selected to the All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the tournament.

Senior Brandi Blaszak (Marcy, N.Y.) and freshman Monique Fletcher (Waterford, Conn.) anchored Utica with 10 kills each. Sophomore Nicole Herringshaw (Syracuse, N.Y.) and classmate Hannah Voss (St. Louis, Mo.) added eight kills apiece, with Voss logging a match-high 23 assists and a match-high six aces.  

The Blazers will return to the court Thursday night with a non-conference road trip to St. Joseph (Conn.) for a 7:00 p.m. tilt.

ELMS VOLLEYBALL