NEWTON, Mass. – Mount Ida sophomore libero Kelcey Koolman (Bedford, N.H.) tied a personal best with 29 digs in the first match on Saturday afternoon, but the Mount Ida College women's volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponents Anna Maria (6-4, 1-1 GNAC) and Emmanuel (9-8, 2-0 GNAC).
Game One: Anna Maria 3, Mount Ida 1
Despite Koolman's defensive prowess, the Mustangs fell by scores of 25-18, 17-25, 25-13 and 25-16. Mount Ida freshman Mary Kate Reidy (Agawam, Mass.) became the only player in all three matches to register double-digit kills, as she racked up 11 points.
The Amcat's balanced attack included seven kills apiece from Rebecca Foti (Bedford, N.H.) and Telliah Bursie (Cheektowaga, N.Y.), as well as six kills from Jessica Goulet (Lawrence, Mass.).
On the defensive front, junior libero Brittany Jackson (Larchmont, N.Y.) racked up 17 digs of her own and junior setter Samantha Parker (Athol, Mass.) piled up 18 assists in the victory. The Amcats also served 11 aces in the game, with Jacqueline Clinton (Walpole, Mass.), Demi Carrero (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) and Brianna LaRegina (Troy, N.Y.) serving three each.
Clinton and Carrero combined for 23 digs in the victory.
The Mustangs saw senior setter Nicole Peixoto (New Bedford, Mass.) assist on 21 points and got a pair of service aces from Lucianna Medici (Riverside, R.I.), as well as seven kills and three digs from junior Taylor Davis (Machiasport, Maine).
Game Two: Emmanuel 3, Anna Maria 0
The Saints picked up their first GNAC win of the year in emphatic fashion, taking care of Anna Maria 25-12, 25-12 and 25-13.
Junior Shannon Dudley (Morro Bay, Calif.) led the way with 25 assists, eight of which came off the swings of junior Danielle Rose (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.).
As a team, the Saints hit .378, including a first set which saw them register 12 kills without an error for a .632 attacking clip.
Junior Brittany Tutalo (Johnston, R.I.) and sophomore Cassie Chruscielski (Duluth, Minn.) R.I.) each had six kills, and Chruscielski added a team-high 12 digs and three service aces along the way.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Atkinson (Brookline, N.H.) picked up seven kills without an attacking error in the win.
The Amcats were led by Bursie's five kills and nine digs from Clinton, while Parker picked up 14 more assists to complete her day.
LaRegina and Goulet each had three kills in the three-set loss.
Game Three: Emmanuel 3, Mount Ida 0
The Mustangs nearly snatched the third set from the Saints, but saw Emmanuel come from a 23-20 deficit to win 26-24, after taking each of the first two sets by a score of 25-13.
Sarah Colby (West Barnstable, Mass.) and Chruscielski each had six kills to lead the Saints attack, while sophomore Sophie Fish (North Attleboro, Mass.) had twenty assists and a game-high five aces, serving a key run in the final game that helped Emmanuel seize the lead.
Fish led the Saints with 11 digs, while Atkinson had four kills, an ace, and a solo block.
Senior Nicole Batakis (East Longmeadow, Mass.) led the way for Mount Ida with seven kills, while Davis had four kills and Koolman added 17 more digs to her total.
Peixoto was in double-digits twice as well, with 13 assists and ten digs, and had three service aces in the final match.
The Mustangs (4-9, 0-3 GNAC) will play host to Regis College on Monday at 6:00 pm in a non-conference match at Mount Ida Athletic Center.