Babson Park, MA -- The WPI volleyball team dropped a 3-0 NEWMAC match on the road to Babson on Friday night at Staake Gymnasium. The Beavers, ranked second regionally and receiving votes in the national poll, topped the Engineers 25-19, 25-18, 25-9 to move to 17-1 on the season, 6-0 in conference play. WPI dips to 5-10 overall, 2-4 in the NEWMAC. 

Catherine Reynolds (Concord, NH) and Olivia Deckers (Marlboro, MA) each tallied six kills to lead WPI, with Reynolds adding 12 assists. Defensively, Emily Hudson (Melrose, MA) posted three blocks with Victoria Escuer (Caracas, Venezuela) added eight digs and Lily Eldridge (Danvers, MA) chipping in with seven. 

For Babson, Isabella Allen (Williamsville, NY) led all players with eight kills while Erin Gray (Oakland, CA) and Lulu McShane (Glencoe, IL) each had seven. Zoe Ackerman (Aurora, CO) and Ruby Reich (Atlanta, GA) topped the Beavers with 14 and 10 assists, respectively, with Ackerman adding seven digs. Tatum Stelter (Glendale, AZ) led all players with 12 digs, also adding a match-high six aces.  

Babson scored early and often in set one, quickly building a five-point lead at 8-3. The Engineers whittled the lead down to three on a Deckers kill, but the Beavers surged on with a 7-3 run to open up a 16-9 advantage. After three straight WPI points cut the gap to 16-12, another Babson run, this time 7-2, ran the score to 23-14. The Engineers made things interesting down the stretch, scoring five of the next six points, but Babson sealed the win to lead 1-0 in the match. 

After four early ties in the second set, WPI scored three straight points including an Eldridge ace to lead 8-5. Babson battled all the way back to tie the frame at 9-9 and several sideouts from each squad knotted it at 11-11. From there, the Beavers took control of the set with a 10-1 run, opening up a 21-12 advantage. The Engineers got the nine-point lead down to six but got no closer as Babson closed set two with a 25-18 score to lead 2-0.

The Beavers ran away with the third set to finish out the sweep, hitting .381 to WPI's -.048. Babson opened with six of the first seven points and led by 11 midway through the action. WPI couldn't close the gap down the stretch with the Beavers winning the third, 25-9, to finish the match. 

WPI continues NEWMAC play next Saturday, October 14, when the Engineers head to MIT for an 11am start. Following that match, the team will take on Bridgewater State, also at MIT, at 3pm. Babson next plays on Tuesday, hosting Simmons at 7pm.