Lasers Battle but Mustangs Prevail

Newton, Mass.- In a well-matched women's volleyball contest tonight in the Lasell College Athletic Center, the Lasers suited up to face the Mount Ida Mustangs in Great Northeast Athletic Conference competition.  Though the teams were comparable in many aspects, the Mustangs came out on top winning three out of the four close sets.

Through the beginning of set number one, the teams stayed within just a few points of each other without either side taking much favor.  It was not until Christine Gallart (Germantown, MD) served five straight points to put the Mustangs up by a significant seven points that the energy shifted to Mount Ida's side. Lasell scored just three more points after that as Mount Ida took game one 25-16 with a service ace by Amanda Pereira (New Bedford, Mass.) on game-point.

Eileen Barrett (Ludlow, Mass.) scored the opening point in the second set for Lasell, swinging as an opposite to earn the kill to the deep corner of the Mustangs court.  However, Lasell's luck faded quickly as the visitors followed up with five straight points. The Lasers played catch up for the rest of the game, though they closed the gap significantly in the final ten points.  Mount Ida took the set 25-21.

Mount Ida began the third set in the same fashion as the first two, leaving Lasell trailing after the opening five points. In spite of this, the Lasers came back to tie the game, and then made their move to go up 10-5 with kills by sophomore middle hitter Danielle Drapeau (Biddeford, ME) and junior outside Melanie Costa (Ludlow, Mass.).  A key solo block by freshman Elizabeth Nichols (Southington, Conn.) shifted the control of the board, leading Lasell to a 25-21 victory in the set.

Unfortunately, the Lasers momentum did not carry over to the final game.  Lasell struggled to find their footing in the deciding set, which allowed Mount Ida to run away with a 25-13 final game, and ultimately the match. As a team, the Mustangs hit a .312 clip in the set, due in large part to Gallart, who hit four for five attempts in the set, for a .800 hitting percentage. 

Throughout the contest, Gallart was the leader in kills for Mount Ida with ten, with an overall attack percentage of .444 on the evening.  Setters Cody Fusco (San Francisco, CA) and Kira Feeter (Keene, NH) shared time distributing a balance offense with five attacker making five or more kills in the triumph.  Fusco and Feeter combined for 29 assists.

Lasell's attack was headed by Drapeau, who finished with eleven kills.  Barrett added seven more, with 16 digs on defense.  Directing the Lasers offense was Meghan Crozier (Ballston Spa, NY) with 21 helpers in the contest, and the defensive leader in the contest proved to be Amanda Major (Southbury, Conn.) who totaled 30 digs in the effort.

Lasell will host Regis College in non-conference action on Friday, October 23^rd at 7:00 p.m. in the Athletic Center.