WORCESTER --
Olivia Hutchinson (Erie, PA) delivered 12 kills and
Zeala VanDamme (San Diego, CA) added seven, but Springfield defeated WPI, 3-1, in a NEWMAC volleyball match Saturday afternoon inside Harrington Auditorium. The Pride prevailed 25-15, 25-21, 21-25 and 25-23 as the Engineers slipped to 6-7 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
The contest marked the sixth edition of the annual Greg Poole Match, with Springfield now holding a 4-2 edge in the six meetings.
Hutchinson hit .219 and added four block assists and four total blocks, while VanDamme hit .313 and collected three total blocks.
Bridget Spees (Saint Johns, FL) contributed seven kills, 12 digs, two aces and five total blocks.
Amelia Lynch (Charlottesville, VA) handed out 27 assists while adding seven digs and two total blocks, while
Jennah DiMartino (Mission Viejo, CA) registered 16 digs, three assists and an ace.
Maura Oslosky (Pittsburgh, PA) chipped in nine digs and an ace.
Springfield was paced by
Jodi Saelua (Mililani, HI), who powered home 19 kills while hitting .395 and adding three total blocks.
Ahunna James (Plainville, MA) added 13 kills and 15 digs, while
Gabbie Weissgarber (Colorado Springs, CO) contributed nine kills, six digs and two total blocks.
Tori Colosimo (Fairport, NY) directed the Pride attack with 50 assists and added 11 digs.
Springfield controlled the opening set, hitting .333 with 16 kills compared to six for WPI. The Engineers stayed within striking distance early, trailing 9-5 before the Pride used a 7-0 run to build a 17-8 advantage. WPI answered with three straight points, including an attack error forced by a Spees-Hutchinson block and a DiMartino ace, but Springfield closed the frame, 25-15.
The second set featured several momentum swings. WPI battled back from an early 6-4 deficit to pull even at 8-8, then continued to trade points with Springfield. The Engineers later used a four-point run to move from 15-12 down to a 16-16 tie before Springfield answered with three straight points. WPI trimmed the margin to 21-20 on a Hutchinson kill, but the Pride scored four of the final five points to secure a 25-21 victory and take a 2-0 lead.
WPI responded with its strongest stretch of the afternoon in the third set. After Springfield built a 15-7 advantage, the Crimson and Gray scored five of the next six points to close within 16-12 before Springfield moved back in front 17-12. WPI then ripped off six straight points, highlighted by kills from Hutchinson, VanDamme and
Niki Szavuly (Woodinville, WA), to take an 18-17 lead. The Engineers maintained the advantage from there and closed out the set, 25-21, to extend the match.
The fourth set remained tightly contested. WPI held a 4-3 edge early and later moved in front 8-6, but Springfield answered and the teams continued to trade points deep into the frame. WPI pulled even at 21-21 before consecutive Springfield points put the Pride ahead 23-21. A VanDamme kill and two Springfield attack errors brought the Engineers to set point at 24-21, but WPI could not complete the comeback as Springfield closed out the match, 25-23.
WPI finished the afternoon with 33 kills, 31 assists, six aces, 65 digs and nine total blocks. Springfield recorded 63 kills, 60 assists, eight aces, 71 digs and eight total blocks.
Both teams continue NEWMAC play on Tuesday. WPI ventures to South Hadley to face off with Mount Holyoke while Springfield tangles with Smith back home in Blake Arena.
