Worcester Polytechnic Institute

South Hadley, MA --- Olivia Hutchinson (Erie, PA) put down eight kills while hitting .462 and Niki Szavuly (Woodinville, WA) added nine kills as WPI swept host Mount Holyoke, 3-0, in a NEWMAC volleyball match Tuesday evening inside Mildred S. Howard Gymnasium. The Engineers prevailed 25-18, 25-23 and 25-20 to improve to 7-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
 
Hutchinson added three block assists and an ace, while Szavuly chipped in three total blocks and an ace. Bridget Spees (Saint Johns, FL) contributed six kills, two aces and three total blocks, while Anastasia Kelnik (Fair Lawn, NJ) registered four kills and five block assists. Amelia Lynch (Charlottesville, VA) directed the WPI attack with 14 assists, and Jennah DiMartino (Mission Viejo, CA) tallied 12 digs, two aces and two assists. Abigail Malone (Groton, CT) added nine digs.
 
Mount Holyoke was paced by Eliza Vest (Rumford, RI), who recorded 10 kills, while Layla Abdullah (Phoenix, AZ) added six kills and five total blocks. Melina Cudiamat (Aiea, HI) handed out 11 assists and collected two aces, while Kyra Staples (Chatham, IL) contributed 20 digs and four assists.
 
WPI established control early in the opening set, using a late surge to pull away from the Lyons. The Engineers received kills from Hutchinson and Szavuly during the closing stretch before a Hutchinson ace and a Mount Holyoke attack error helped WPI finish the frame, 25-18.
 
The second set proved to be a much tighter affair. After Mount Holyoke battled to keep pace, WPI found another gear late in the frame. Szavuly delivered a pair of kills during the closing stretch, while Hutchinson added a kill and the Engineers finished off the Lyons, 25-23, to take a 2-0 lead.
 
WPI saved its strongest hitting performance for the third set, finishing with nine kills against just two errors while hitting .206. The Engineers gradually created separation before putting the match away with a 50-40 victory in the final frame. Kelnik and Hutchinson provided key kills during the closing run, while WPI's defense and blocking prevented Mount Holyoke from mounting a comeback.
 
The Crimson and Gray finished the night with 29 kills, 29 assists, seven aces, 50 digs and 11 total blocks. Hutchinson and Szavuly combined for 17 kills, while WPI held Mount Holyoke to a .000 hitting percentage.
 
Both teams return to action Saturday, hosting tri-matches beginning at 11am. WPI hosts Clark in a NEWMAC match and Mount Saint Mary (NY), while Mount Holyoke welcomes Worcester State and Southern Maine.