SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Williams College volleyball team captured a five-set win at Springfield College on Friday night, starting the New England Challenge with a victory.
The Ephs won the first and third sets, but Springfield continued to battle back, and the fifth set featured several lead changes and Williams erasing a four point deficit before taking the match.
The team will play two more matches in the tournament on Saturday, facing a pair of regional powers in Babson at 11am and MIT at 3pm..
"Tonight was another great team win by our entire crew," said Head Coach Christi Kelsey. "From our bench to whatever lineup was on court as we went through the match, I'm so proud of how we played together, supported one another and had so many people step up when we needed another spark!
"Springfield is a great team in our region so this was an awesome win for us tonight. Looking forward to competing again tomorrow!"
Keely Campuzano had the most kills for Williams with 16, ahead of Tatum Baker with 11, and Chi Obi had nine kills with no attack errors. Baker also added three aces with no service errors.
Morgan Daetz (32 assists) and Lilly Carstens (14 assists) split the setting duties, and several players contributed double-digit digs, including Eve Kaplan (17), Baker (11), Daetz (10) and Adalena Rodgers (10).
The hosts had the lead in the first set but Williams went from trailing 9-7 to leading 13-9 in a run that included three aces from Daetz. The Ephs maintained the lead and won four straight points - with another Daetz ace - to win the set 25-18.
The second set saw the Ephs jump out to an early lead, but the Pride battled back and looked to be in control, ahead 20-16. Williams then fought back, eventually tying it at 22, but Springfield had some clutch points to win 25-23.
Williams won the first six points of the third, all with Daetz serving, and though Springfield tied the game at 14 and kept it close throughout, the Ephs ended up winning 25-20. The Pride were in control of the fourth, winning 25-15 and forcing a decisive fifth game.
The two teams traded points in the fifth, with ties at 1-1, 2-2, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6, but Springfield looked to be in control after winning four straight points to take a 10-6 lead. Williams fought back, tied the match at 11, and after a Springfield point, won another three straight to go up 14-12. The Pride pulled a point back, but an Obi kill gave the Ephs a 15-13 win in the set and a 3-2 match victory.
Saturday's matches will feature many top New England teams, with all matches taking place at Springfield College's Blake Arena.
