October 18, 2009
VB: WILLETS AND MCDERMOTT LEAD DOLPHINS TO 3-0 WIN OVER SAINT
MICHAEL'S
Syracuse, N.Y. - Middle hitters Kelli Willets (Apalachin,
N.Y./Vestal) and Morgan McDermott (Camillus,
N.Y./West Genesee) slammed down 10 kills each to lead the
Le Moyne College volleyball team to a 3-0 Northeast-10 Conference
victory on Sunday afternoon over Saint Michael's at Ted Grant
Court.
In the opening game, the Dolphins built a 10-4 lead before holding
on for a 25-21 win. Freshman Bethany Fabian (Lake View,
N.Y./Frontier) tallied four straight points on serve early
in the game to build the Le Moyne lead. The Purple Knights battled
back to get within two points of the Dolphins on four occasions,
but could not pull any closer. Following a Willets kill, senior
Elizabeth Cheek (Huntington Beach, Calif./Rosary)
turned a 21-18 advantage into a six point lead with three straight
points off serve. Saint Michael's had a chance to cut its deficit
to 24-22, but Fabian landed a kill to seal the Le Moyne win.
In game two, the two teams battled back-and-forth to a 12-12 tie
midway through the game. The Dolphins responded with a 10-3 run to
take control of the game. Fabian capped the run with four straight
points off serve to give Le Moyne a 22-15 lead. After the Purple
Knights closed to within 22-18, the Dolphins scored three of the
game's final four points for a 25-19 victory. McDermott and Cheek
each had five kills in the game, while senior setter Kaylin
Brainerd (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) dished out nine
assists.
In the final game, the Dolphins jumped out to a 13-5 lead en route
to a 25-22 win to close out the match. Freshman setter
Katie Plukas (Rochester, N.Y./West Irondequoit)
and Cheek each served for three points in the early run. Saint
Michael's closed to within 15-10, but the Dolphins answered with
five straight points to take a game-high 10 point lead. The Purple
Knights stayed alive in the match and crept to within 24-22, but
Willets landed a kill off a pass from Plukas to end it. Willets
registered six kills in the game, while McDermott added three kills
and two blocks.
Willets, who landed double-digit kills for the first time in her
career, also posted three blocks. McDermott finished in
double-figures in kills for the third straight match and added a
match-high four blocks. Brainerd dished out 23 assists in the
match, while Fabian and Lindsey Gleason (Hamburg,
N.Y./Frontier) each recorded a match-best nine digs.
Le Moyne (13-6, NE-10 5-4), which has won seven of its nine home
matches, returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 24 against Assumption
at 12:00 p.m.
-agate-
Le Moyne 3, Saint
Michael's 0
Saint Michael's (5-14, NE-10 1-11)
21
19 22
Le Moyne (13-6, NE-10
5-4)
25
25 25
