BOSTON, Mass. – The Mount Ida women's volleyball team came from a set down to defeat Daniel Webster 3-1 and split their matches on Saturday afternoon at Wentworth's Tri-Match. Earlier in the day, the host Leopards edged the Mustangs in a five-setter, winning 3-2.
MATCH 2: Mount Ida 3, Daniel Webster 1
Mount Ida dropped the first set in a close battle at 23-25, but was able to rally for the next three games, winning 25-18, 28-26 and 25-21. With the win Mount Ida improves to 2-5, while Daniel Webster remains winless at 0-2.
Nicole Batakis (East Longmeadow, Mass) followed with 8 kills and Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, Conn.) chipped in 7.
The defensive effort was led by Kelcey Koolman (Bedford, N.H.) with 16 digs, while Kostner also hit double digits in digs with 10.
For Daniel Webster, Samantha Betts (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif) was the only Eagle with double-digit kills coming in at 11. Christina Matos (Tampa, Fla.) recorded 7 kills on the afternoon, all without making a single error for the match.
Maggie Belli (Miami, Fla.) led the defensive charge for the Eagles with 14 digs, while Betts recorded 11. Also to note Sarah Durocher (Keene, N.H.) recorded a match high 7 aces to help DWC record 17 total aces for the match.
MATCH #1: Wentworth 3, Mount Ida 2
Wentworth scored the first seven points of the deciding set as freshman Amanda Hunton (Monroe, N.Y.) served all points, including three aces. After Mount Ida had cut the score to 9-2, the Black & Gold scored the final six points to take the victory.
The early stages of the opening set saw four ties and the Mustangs take a 5-4 lead. However, the lead was short-lived as the Leopards scored the next six points and would eventually extend their lead to 18-9 before scoring the set's final five points for the 25-10 win.
Mount Ida took a 6-3 lead at the start of the second set before three straight Leopard points tied it at 6-all. However, the Mustangs scored the next six points to take a 12-6 lead, a lead they would not relinquish.
The momentum carried over into the third set where the Mustangs took a 9-6 lead, and, after Wentworth tied it at 9-all, scored seven of the next nine points to take a 17-11 lead. The Leopards cut the lead to 17-14, but an 8-2 Mustang end gave the Green and White a 2-1 lead with a 25-16 win.
Wentworth would force the deciding game by using an 8-2 run to turn a 3-3 game into an 11-5 lead. Mount Ida clawed its way back to come within 17-14, but four straight points by the Leopards extended the lead to 21-14 before winning, 25-20.
Kostner paced the Mustangs with 12 kills and 10 digs, while Fedigan added four digs. Freshman Molly Alkinburg (Port Deposit, Md.) and Koolman had four aces apiece. Koolman also added 10 digs. Sophomore Nicole Peixoto (New Bedford, Mass.) had 25 assists.
Sophomore Hannah Bailey (Plymouth, Mass.) led the Leopards with eight kills and 15 digs. Freshman Sheena Dignean (Constantia, N.Y.) added seven kills while sophomore Jordan Young (Derry, N.H.) had four. Hunton had three aces and 14 digs, junior Sam Curran (Quincy, Mass.) had 28 digs, and junior Shannon Ponce (San Jpse, Calif.) added 19 assists.
Mount Ida will return to action at home on Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. when they take on Wheaton.