Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Cambridge, MA --- Bridget Spees (Saint Johns, FL) and Zeala VanDamme (San Diego, CA) each recorded seven kills, but No. 10 MIT swept the WPI volleyball team, 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-13), Tuesday evening in the NEWMAC opener at Rockwell Cage.
 
The Boynton Hillers drop to 6-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while the Cambridge Engineers improve to 9-1 and 1-0 in the NEWMAC.
 
Spees hit .280 while adding nine digs and an ace, while VanDamme posted a .222 hitting percentage and added three blocks. Niki Szavuly (Woodinville, WA) chipped in six kills and two blocks, and Olivia Hutchinson (Erie, PA) contributed five kills and a block. Amelia Lynch (Charlottesville, VA) directed the WPI offense with 21 assists while adding six digs and two blocks.
 
Sabine Smith (Park City, UT) led all players with 12 kills for the Cambridge Engineers, while Julia Tolstova (Redlands, CA) added 11 and Eileen Sadati (San Juan Capistrano, CA) finished with nine. Kayleigh May (Camarillo, CA) handed out 37 assists and added three blocks, while Sophia Song (Plano, TX) led all players with 22 digs. Miller Grimes (Charlottesville, VA) hit .750 with six kills and three blocks as MIT finished with 54 kills and a .325 hitting percentage.
 
The opening set featured five ties and one lead change before MIT began to create separation. WPI held a 4-2 advantage after an ace from Spees, and the Boynton Hillers later pulled within 14-10 following another point from Spees. MIT answered with three straight points and eventually took a 22-16 lead before closing out the frame, 25-17.
 
WPI came out quickly in the second set, taking a 3-2 lead before MIT answered with a four-point run. The Boynton Hillers stayed within striking distance and later used a four-point surge, highlighted by kills from Szavuly and VanDamme, to pull within 16-15. MIT responded with four consecutive points and maintained control down the stretch, securing a 25-20 victory. WPI scored five of the final nine points, including back-to-back points from Jennah DiMartino (Mission Viejo, CA), but the Cambridge Engineers finished off the set.
 
The third set belonged to MIT from the outset as the Cambridge Engineers jumped in front 8-3. WPI trimmed the deficit to 9-4 on a VanDamme kill and later pulled within 15-8 following a Spees kill. MIT answered with five of the next six points to build a 20-10 advantage before WPI scored three of the next four. The Cambridge Engineers closed the match by scoring the final two points, taking the set 25-13 and the match in straight sets.
 
The Crimson and Gray head to Medford on Thursday for a NEWMAC matchup against Tufts. First serve is slated for 6pm. The Cambridge Engineers remain home on Saturday, hosting Coast Guard at 11am in a tri-match at Rockwell Cage that also features Kean (NJ).