On senior night, the Mount Ida College women's volleyball team rolled over non-conference Salem State College 3-0 winning by scores of 25-8, 25-12, and 25- . The Mustangs improve to 14-11 overall heading into the final stretch of the season against Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponents with a 5-4 record, currently in seventh place in the GNAC standings. The Vikings fall to 5-12 on the year.
Senior captain's Blair Canan (North Reading, MA/North Reading) and Stephanie Saito (West Linn, OR/West Linn) were recognized tonight on senior night for their accomplishments and dedication to the program. Blair has been a valuable part of the program not only with her ability as a player and an athlete, but her determination to win. She has been a part of two North Atlantic Conference (NAC) championship teams and two seasons in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). During her freshman campaign in 2004, she received team honors for Most Improved Player (MIP).
By far, Blair's biggest game ever in her career came last year against GNAC rival and neighboring Lasell College where she tallied an amazing 22 kills, three service aces, and 29 digs. It was the second most kills in a game in Mustang women's volleyball history since alumni Adrienne Xenos '08 notched 25 against Maine - Farmington back on October 30, 2004. Blair has also cemented her name in the career record books. She is now third all-time in kills (621) and second all-time in digs (1304).
Blair has been an example to be followed by all Mustangs that trail in her footsteps on and off the volleyball court and will be missed. She will leave Mount Ida College with a degree in Child Development.
Stephanie's hard work and determination along with her knowledge of the game has abated in the success of the program during her tenure as a Mustang. She has also been a part of two North Atlantic Conference (NAC) championships along with two trips to the NCAA tournament and two seasons in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).
Stephanie has been honored on numerous occasions with All-Conference accolades. During her freshman campaign, she was recognized with NAC all-conference second team honors as well as four NAC rookie-of-the-week selections. She received NAC first team all conference honors and a NAC all tournament team selection her sophomore season. Last year, the Mustangs first season as part of the GNAC; Steph was recognized with GNAC all-conference second team honors.
Saito, who has spent her career as a setter and most recently as a libero, has had numerous outstanding individual performances including 39 assists against Pine Manor College back on October 1, 2006. She also tallied 53 digs this season back on September 12, 2008 against GNAC member Emerson College.
Stephanie has had a memorable career as a Mustang; her name will also be indented into the career record books as the all-time career leader in assists (1509) surpassing women's volleyball alumni Kristyn Correia '06 (1288) who has held the record for three years prior. She will leave Mount Ida College with a degree in Fashion Design.
Mount Ida made quick work of game one winning 25-8 dominating the opening up 5-1. The Mustangs were cruising and piling it on the visitors, scoring 11 consecutive points from 16-7 all the way to the finish. Game one was capped off on two huge kills by junior middle blocker Lauren Biondo (Coventry, RI/Coventry) for the victory and the 1-0 match lead.
It was much of the same in game two with the Mustangs taking over early up 13-3 on six successive points. Biondo was again a huge part to the success of the offensive with a couple of key blocks and consecutive service aces to pull ahead 20-9. A couple of Salem State errors gave Mount Ida the outright 25-12 victory in the second chapter and a 2-0 match advantage and looking for the shut out.
The momentum was in the favor of the Mustangs who coasted to a game three victory with another enormous performance by Biondo with incredible offense and defense. She was helped by fellow junior Cherie Parisi (South Attleboro, MA/Attleboro) who chipped in a couple of kills. Mount Ida took the game three win 25-12 and the 3-0 match shut out. Good for their 14th triumph of the season.
Biondo had the big night with seven kills on nine attempts and only one error while sophomore Chelsea Darnell (Dublin, OH/Dublin Scioto) notched eight kills on 12 attempts with zero errors. Canan tallied 10 digs and sophomore setter Kira Fetter (Keene, NH/Keene) totaled 10 assists.
The Mustangs will travel to last place conference opponent Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut this coming Saturday starting at 7:00 p.m.