BABSON PARK, Mass. – Wellesley College volleyball fell 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 25-21) to crosstown foe Babson College NEWMAC match on Tuesday night at Staake Gymnasium.
The Beavers (9-3 Overall, 3-0 NEWMAC) saw a big 43 ace, 10 dig performance from junior Zoe Ackerman (Aurora, Colo.). Junior Allison Molendyk (Danville, Calif.) had a game-high 15 kills and a .344 hitting percentage. First-year Liberty May (Grapevine, Texas) hit six aces while senior Isabella Allen (Williamsville, N.Y.) added 10 kills.
Senior captain Kaija Kunze-Hoeg (Eagan, Minn.) was the leader in kills (14) and digs (17) for the Blue (6-6 Overall, 1-2 NEWMAC). Junior Evie Hill (Rocklin, Calif.) contributed nine kills and 15 digs. Sophomore Else Kunze-Hoeg (Eagan, Minn.) tallied four aces while assisting on 33 kills. First-year Natalie Dabrowski (Chicago, Ill.) was efficient, ending the game with a .400 hitting percentage and seven kills.
The opening set began with the first 14 points evenly split between the two squads. Babson briefly gained a bit of distance, but an error would knot the set back up at 14-14. From there, a 4-0 Beavers run with a trio of aces from May proved to be key, with Wellesley unable to get the set within three points in a 25-20 opener. Both teams had 11 kills in the first set, with nearly identical hitting percentage numbers (Wellesley .304; Babson .303).
The second set exchanged hands 10 times, with both teams unable to shake off the other. Meyer notably recorded three unanswered aces in the middle of the period. Down 17-16, the Beavers took four consecutive points, with May recording an ace, an assist and a kill. The Blue countered with three of its own to reset the score at 20 apiece before two Hill kills put the visitors ahead, 22-20. Babson snatched three more points with Wellesley striking back with two to gain set point, 24-23. An ace from Hill gave Wellesley the set and tied the match at 1-1.
The hosts dashed out 12-3 in the third set before the Blue rallied with a 6-1 run to cut it to 13-8. The comeback didn't stop there, with Coach Dorothy Webb's team lowering the deficit to one at 18-17. The Beavers swung the momentum back with seven of the final eight points in a 25-17 showing to capture a 2-1 edge. K. Kunze-Hoeg had four kills in the set for Wellesley.
The fourth frame alternated back and forth with ties at 1-1, 3-3, 5-5, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11 and 12-12. Babson wrenched the lead away with a 5-1 run to make it 17-13 with a bit of breathing room. Wellesley wouldn't go quietly in the night, taking six of the next seven to regain control at 19-18, topped off by back-to-back K. Kunze-Hoeg kills. Babson and Wellesley were in lock step at 21-21 when the hosts found its moment, taking the final four points of the match, with Molendyk cementing the win with two more kills.
On Saturday, October 4, the Blue will welcome Salve Regina University to Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse for Earn The W Day at 2:00 PM. Babson hosts Coast Guard Academy during that time on the same day.
