BIDDEFORD, Maine – Wellesley College volleyball overcame a one-set deficit to win a 3-1 match (18-25, 25-21, 25-11, 26-24) versus University of New England inside Harold Alfond Forum on Saturday afternoon. The Blue have now won six straight and take a 6-2 record into NEWMAC play next week.
First-year Delia Noel (Telluride, Colo.) was electric for Wellesley, recording 17 kills and 17 digs. Senior Caroline Meyer (Indianapolis, Ind.) had a game-high 24 digs and six aces while junior Else Kunze-Hoeg (Eagan, Minn.) assisted on 44 kills. Senior Evie Hill (Rocklin, Calif.) and junior Ella Mancuso (North Andover, Mass.) both had double-digit kills, with 13 and 11 respectively.
The Nor'Easters (4-2) were led by a 12 kill-10 dig double-double from senior Hannah Nowell (Woburn, Mass.). Sophomore Lylah Shumway (Canterbury, N.H.) had a team-best 18 digs and junior Hayley Shult (Buffalo, Minn.) recorded 21 assists.
The first went back-and-forth through 7-7. UNE began to distance itself and went on a 5-1 run and by 20-11, the hosts were firmly in the driver's seat. While a 6-2 stretch for the Blue made things interesting at 22-18, a trio of Nor'Easter kills put the set to rest.
The second set once again began even. A 4-0 shift at 6-6 gave the Blue momentum, back by two kills from junior Sarah Jin (San Jose, Calif.). Wellesley's lead hovered between three and six for much of the remainder of the frame. The Blue never allowed UNE to get a foothold, with junior Ella Mancuso (North Andover, Mass.) slamming the door on a 25-21 set with a kill set up by a Kunze-Hoeg pass.
After going up 14-11 in the third, the Blue began firing on all cylinders, winning the final 11 points of the set. The team couldn't miss, with four kills from Mancuso down the stretch. Jin, Noel and Meyer all joined in on the points party with kills and aces.
Wellesley went into the fourth on fire, breaking off six points in-a-row to make it 9-3. The Blue lead sat above five points through 17-12. UNE made a late run, cutting it down to two at 20-18. The two traded points to 23-21. A Nor'Easters point made it a one-point set at 23-22 and tied the set with an ace. Senior Evie Hill (Rocklin, Calif.) pushed Wellesley to match point with a crucial kill. UNE saved one match point, but the Blue were relentless, finishing out a 26-24 set for the match win.
Wellesley kicks off NEWMAC competition at Springfield College on Tuesday, September 22. UNE takes on Plymouth State University at home on Wednesday, September 23.
