Williamstown, MA - The Ephs (10-7, 3-5 NESCAC) hosted Wesleyan University (12-5, 6-1 NESCAC) for an intense 5 sets, ultimately losing close 3-2.
The Cardinals struck first, instating a 4-1 lead after marginally outplaying their opponent. Chi Obi ran a successful back-one tempo which tried to shift the momentum of the game, but Wesleyan doubled down with a kill and an ace to bring the set 6-2. After a missed serve, back-to-back from both teams, the score reached 8-4. A powerful off-system back row kill by Keely Campuzano right at the Wesleyan back row let Williams try to catch up 9-6, but another kill followed by an ace by the Cardinals forced the first timeout at 10-6 by the Ephs. Post-timeout, in an intense rally where the Ephs picked up both an open hit and an overhead kill, Tatum Baker eventually put the ball down with a powerful kill. Directly following, the Ephs increased their aggression, managing to get powerful hits and force a passing error by the Cardinals. Two Wesleyan points relinquished Williams' momentum, and after an ace the Ephs were trailing behind a large 6-point deficit. Keely Campuzano started the upwards initiative after a powerful kill right off of the Cardinals platform, followed by Annaliese Fricke with a tool into the block, and Helen Qian managing to find the open court on a quick set. A double-block by Annaliese and Helen gave the Ephs some momentum, but Wesleyan's consistent defense allowed them to keep the lead 18-13. The teams kept wrestling evenly, and Morgan Daetz pulled off a rapid setter dump followed by another contested setter dump to get her team two crucial points. Still leading 21-16, the Cardinals called a momentum-stopping timeout after Tatum Baker tooled off the side of the block. Wesleyan came off their timeout to get three consecutive points, and put the final ball down with a middle tip to take the set 25-17.
The second set started much the same way as the first. The Cardinals went up 4-1 and Chi Obi gave the Ephs a very quick point with a sharp kill to the pin. Williams called their first timeout 10-5 after a short serve was misspassed. At 14-8, an off-system kill by Keely Campuzano, followed by a strong double block by Annaliese Fricke and Helen Qian helped the Ephs catch up. Led by Keely Campuzano's strong serve, the Ephs went on a three point run with two kills and a block, pressuring a Cardinals timeout 16-13. After a Williams service error, the Cardinals went on a 5-point run, with 4 blocks, to force a timeout 22-14. Williams achieved two points directly after the timeout, but the Cardinals relentless and determined defense allowed them to come up to game point at 24-16. Sidra Wohlwend lunged into a phenomenal one-armed dig in the last point, but the Ephs hit went just out of bounds and gave Wesleyan their second set 25-16.
Williams kicked off the third set strong with a 3-point run: Keely Campuzano tipped the ball from over the net and had a block alongside Chi Obi. After a fantastic serve receive by Sidra Wohlwend, Chi had a stunning quick kill, but two attack errors and some kills allowed the Cardinals to catch up 6-6. Williams changed gears in this set, working with a 2-setter rotation to allow all three offensive options, which seemed to give them more success. After a two-point lead was reinstated, Wesleyan called a timeout. Chi Obi came off of the timeout to bring the Ephs run to a total of three, and after a Cardinals kill, Tatum Baker achieved a direct solo block to bring Williams' lead 11-8. Three consecutive points, starting with a contested call allowed the Cardinals to equalize the set, but Keely Campuzano put their momentum to rest with two straight kills. Wesleyan worked their way up to the Ephs, and both teams began exchanging the lead with persistent rallies. The Cardinals began to slip away with a two point lead, and as the Ephs almost came back with a kill, Wesleyan asserted their lead following two more points and forced a nervous timeout 21-18. Williams got the next two points, after Kate Lane got a clutch kill and the Cardinals committed an error, but an Ephs attack error and short serve leading to an ace forced another timeout. Keely Campuzano seized the first kill, and after an enduring rally containing many digs, Annaliese Fricke hit right off the top of the Cardinals' block and coerced a nervous Wesleyan timeout 23-22. Morgan Daetz got the next point off of a short serve, but a block let the Cardinals have the chance to win– with the Ephs trailing one point behind. Wesleyan had an attacking error to equalize at 23, but a block let them have the first chance to win. Keely Campuzano got a critical point, but a service error let the Cardinals have the chance, yet again. Similar to old fashion, Annaliese Fricke tooled the block to tie the game at 26, and Wesleyan fumbled their defense to give the Ephs their first chance to win 27-26. A missed serve by Williams, was followed with a lucky Wesleyan ace, but Helen Qian prolonged the set with a back one that was put straight down. Tatum Baker brought the Ephs to a winning position 29-28, and two service errors canceled out to put them back 30-29. Four more kills were exchanged: the Cardinals just hit the ball in, in a contested call, the Ephs tooled off the block, Wesleyan hit a short ball down the middle, and Keely Campuzano hit the ball back short at the net. In the final point of this intense set, Keely Campuzano got the last kill to win the set 33-31.
The fourth set started with the same intensity as the last one ended, with Chi Obi landing a power tip to put the Ephs on the board first. The Ephs quickly turned to domination, beginning with a 3-point run after a double block by Annaliese Fricke. Keely Campuzano kept the lead for Williams with a high tip right over the block, and then a service error, cross-court kill by Keely, and an ace by Sidra Wohlwend forced an early timeout 7-2. Post-timeout, Annaliese Fricke put the ball through the opponents block to extend the run to a total of 6 points. Two additional missed serves by the Cardinals allowed the Ephs to slip away with a powerful lead 10-4. Lilly Carstens set brilliantly backwards to give her opposite hitter a kill, Chi Obi achieved a middle kill, straight down, and Annaliese Fricke hit an extremely sharp cross-court kill. Leading now 16-8, the Cardinals were struggling to respond to Williams' front row, but a few errors let them come back slightly, 17-12. Annaliese Fricke nailed the ball down with another sharp cross-court kill, but another two errors coerced the Ephs to call a timeout 17-14 and get back into competitive play. Wesleyan committed their own hitting error right off of the timeout, and a net touch let the Ephs break 20, trailing ahead five points. A predictive read on the Ephs middle hitter let the Cardinals get a good block 21-17, but a missed serve let the Ephs start to bring it home. Another error and tool by Annaliese let Williams have their chance to win 24-20. After two close points won by Wesleyan, an incredible dig by Sidra Wohlwend let Annaliese Fricke take the set with a tool that was sent off the opposite side of the court 25-22.
In the last intense set to 15, the first important kill was seized by Keely Campuzano. The Cardinals retaliated heavily with a soft tool off of the Ephs defense and a strong block to take the lead 3-1. After another block, now with a four point run, the Ephs called the first timeout. Keely hit through the block to stop their momentum, and a 3-tempo ball by Helen Qian grazed the block before hitting the ground. However, a missed serve and an ace gave the Cardinals a strong 7-4 lead. A brilliant tip by freshman Kate Lane provided the score 9-7, though a double block let the Ephs keep trailing behind 10-8. Another block by the Ephs right after their second timeout sent the ball far behind the defensive lines of coverage, and in a great surge of energy, they simply didn't let the Cardinals send the ball over, managing block after block which eventually let the ball drop. Another monumental block directly following allowed the Cardinals dig to hit the antenna and gave the Ephs the lead in a tight 11-10 set. Wesleyan were able to equalize after their own block, but Kate Lane had another clutch kill through the block to give the Ephs the lead again. After a failed block, the Cardinals equalized, and a combination play let the Ephs have an open kill, down 13-12. The Cardinals took the chance to win after an ace, and a final strong block gave them the win 15-13.
Ephs' head coach
Christi Kelsey provided her overview of the team's performance and coming week: "I am so incredibly proud of our team tonight for the toughness and resiliency they showed in battling back to force a fifth set against Wesleyan. We played some of our best volleyball yet this season in sets 3 and 4. Then we definitely had our opportunities to win in the fifth set to win which is tough.
The great part about this group is that they will come in even more focused next week to keep getting better and that's what we will stay focused on as we look forward to our next opportunities to compete."
In this game, Morgan Daetz dominated in assist stats, achieving an astonishing 41 assists.
Williams volleyball will be back next weekend to kick off the New England Challenge, playing Babson College on Friday October 25th at 7:00 PM EST.
