CASTLETON, Vt. – Sophomore
Fiona Bailey (Wrentham, Mass.) matched a career high with 10 kills and hit .333 to lead Plymouth State University to a sweep of Vermont State University Castleton, 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-19), in Little East Conference (LEC) women's volleyball action at Glenbrook Gymnasium on Saturday.
The opening set was tied at 18-all, but a Castleton error and Bailey kill created separation as the Panthers held on for a 25-21 win. Plymouth State trailed 12-10 in the second set but used a 7-1 run to pull in front before earning a 25-19 win. The Panthers scored the first six points of the third set and stayed in front the rest of the way. Castleton mounted a late rally to pull within two, but Plymouth State regrouped after a timeout to close out the sweep, 25-19.
Plymouth State improves to 12-4 (3-1 LEC), while the Spartans fall to 6-7 (0-3 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Castleton 0
- Plymouth State (12-4, 3-1 LEC)
- Castleton (6-7, 0-3 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Castleton held a 13-9 advantage midway through the opening set, but Bailey's kill sparked a PSU rally. A kill from junior Sydney Riley (Haverhill, Mass.) and ace from sophomore Emily Sousa (Farmington, Conn.) tied the score at 18-18. A Spartan error gave PSU the lead, and Bailey followed with two more kills before sophomore Sya McKay (Somersworth, N.H.) slammed the set-winning kill for a 25-21 victory.
- The Spartans again held an early lead in set two, but Riley and junior Danielle Emerson (Biddeford, Maine) helped PSU claw back. Riley posted two kills and a block, while Emerson served back-to-back aces as the Panthers jumped in front, 15-12. PSU retained the lead the rest of the way, with another Riley kill sealing the 25-19 win.
- Emerson served the first six points of the third set as Plymouth State took control early. A kill from senior Annalyn Cahill (Mystic, Conn.) gave PSU its largest lead at 18-10, but Castleton attempted to rally. The hosts pulled within two points at 20-18 before a Plymouth State timeout. McKay hammered a kill out of the break, and sophomore Alice Borriello Diaz (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) clinched the sweep with three straight aces for a 25-19 victory.
By the Numbers:
- Bailey's 10 kills tied a career high. She added five digs and hit .333.
- Riley chipped in nine kills and three blocks, while McKay added eight kills.
- Cahill contributed seven kills and a block.
- Emerson posted 35 assists, three aces and five digs.
- Borriello Diaz served a match-high five aces to go with four kills and 13 digs.
- Senior Christa Imbriano (Wakefield, Mass.) led all players with 14 digs.
- PSU improves to 9-0 against the Spartans all time. All nine matches have been decided in three sets.
Up Next:
- The Panthers travel to VTSU Lyndon on Wednesday (Oct. 14) for a 6 p.m. match with the Hornets.
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