Saturday, October 20, 2012 (Nashua, New Hampshire) - The Mount Ida College women's volleyball team went 0-2 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match Saturday afternoon in Nashua, New Hampshire dropping an opening 3-1 loss to hosting Rivier University by scores of 22-25, 14-25, 25-14 and 14-25.
In the Mustangs final match of the day against visiting league member Simmons College, Mount Ida would fall in an close 3-2 loss by scores of 24-26, 25-15, 26-24, 25-21 and 13-15 heading home with an overall record of 10-14, 5-5 in conference play.
In the opening match against the hosting Raiders, the Mustangs fell in the first two games ending up capturing game three pulling within one set down 2-1. Mount Ida would lose game four for the 3-1 league loss against first year Head Coach Craig Martin's old squad.
The Mustangs were led offensively by senior hitter Jennifer Ferreira (Shirley, MA/Ayer) with 13 kills on 35 attempts making 12 errors in the process also adding two service aces and seven digs. With the performance, Ferreira would break the record for kills in a single season breaking the old record of 327 set by recent Hall-of-Fame inductee Christina Nikolaidis.
Along with Ferreira, Mount Ida saw four kills each from junior hitter Emily Hutvagner (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) and sophomore hitter Shay Collins (Londonderry, NH/Londonderry). Freshman middle hitter Trudy Goetchius (North Andover, MA/Lawrence Vocational Tech.) added six kills on 19 attempts while freshman defensive specialist Kelcey Koolman (Bedford, NH/Bedford) recorded 16 digs. Senior setter Julie Smith (Richmond, RI/Chariho) dished out a team-high 17 kills while sophomore Nicole Peixoto (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford) notched 12 helpers respectively.
In the final game of the day for the Mustangs against visiting GNAC member Simmons College, Mount Ida won games two and four to stalemate the scoreboard heading into the deciding fifth game eventually falling in a close 15-13 loss falling 3-2.
Mount Ida was led offensively this time by newcomer Goetchius with 16 kills on 21 attempts with only two errors along with six digs. Ferreira would record 15 kills adding to her impressive individual statistical season on 45 chances with three service aces and six digs. Peixoto would run the Mustang offense with a team-high 29 assists while fellow teammate Smith tallied 11 dishes. Koolman again was atop the Mustang defense with eight digs.
Snapping a three match winning streak after Saturday's losses the Mustangs will head to non-league Newbury College Tuesday evening starting at 7:00 p.m. Mount Ida will host Babson College Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. in a non-league bid. Senior day will come next Saturday in a GNAC tri-match against visiting Emmanuel College and the University of St. Joseph (CT) at 10:00 a.m.