Logan MullenStaff Writer
After a heartbreaking loss to Roger Williams on Friday night, the Springfield College women’s volleyball team looked to bounce back against Westfield State and Plymouth State to round out the Tom Hay Invitational and resume their winning ways.
The Pride jumped out to a quick and dominant start against the Westfield State Owls, taking the first set 25-6. However, the Pride did not continue this dominance as Westfield State quickly turned things around in the second set, but not enough to win as Springfield took the set with a 25-21 victory.
While the Pride were looking to complete the sweep, the Owls continued to fight in the third set, which featured constant ties and lead changes.
Ultimately, Springfield pulled it together and defeated Westfield State by a lopsided margin of 25-10, garnering a much needed recovery win.
The Pride were led by senior Tessa Smolinski and her match-high 10 kills, and .667 hitting percentage. Springfield also tallied 41 kills in the quick matinee, sending them into their final match of the weekend against Plymouth State with momentum.
Looking to continue what they started, Springfield tried to finish the Tom Hay Invitational with a critical win versus the Panthers from Plymouth State.
The Pride wasted no time picking up where they left off, taking the first set with no trouble at all by a score of 25-8. The second set (much like that of the Westfield State match) did not go quite as smoothly as the first. Springfield was never in trouble at any point throughout the set, but they did give up more than twice as many points than in the first, taking the second set 25-17.
The final set was a medium between the first two, with Springfield playing in a consistent manner throughout the set, and in turn knocking off the Panthers 25-11, completing their second consecutive sweep of the day. The team was yet again anchored by the talent of Smolinski, but was also characterized by the further emergence of young stars Lauren Holt and Amanda Palladino.
Saturday was just what the doctor ordered for Springfield after a much-needed rebound following Friday’s heartbreak. In the end, the Pride capped off the weekend with a 2-1 record. More importantly the two consecutive sweeps will send Springfield into next week with plenty of momentum, as they face Mount Holyoke followed by a trip down south to Texas for four games in the Trinity Fall Classic set against some of the country’s top Division III talent.