By Liam Reilly
@liampreilly852
SPRINGFIELD- The Springfield College women’s volleyball team knocked off Endicott 3-0 Tuesday night at Blake Arena. The win moves the Pride to 20-6.
Springfield raced to a fast start against Endicott, leading 9-1 after a kill from Tori Colosimo. A thunderous slam from the top of the net by Ahunna James pushed the score to 16-8. The Pride’s offense continued to roll as back-to-back kills from Jodi Saelua built a 22-13 lead. Saelua rose to claim her fourth kill of the match, and the set win for Springfield, 25-14.
The Pride didn’t repeat their hot start from stage opening, as the Gulls swooped to a 5-3 lead. Two kills from Riley Donahue helped Springfield take over the set. The Pride’s defense shined again, as the team’s middle blockers Saelua and Maeve Voltz snuffed any hopes of Endicott winning the set. Springfield’s 25-19 win gave them a 2-0 lead heading into the potential last set.
Endicott flew to a 4-1 lead, but another slam by James sent into the hands of a Gulls defender moved momentum in favor of the Pride, 7-6. Springfield’s offense once again took over the set, as Donahue notched four kills in just eight plays. Blocks from Natalie Billet and Voltz won the set for the Pride 25-14.
A key to Springfield’s sweep over Endicott was Donahue’s offense, as in just the third set Donahue registered six kills. This game meant a little more for her, as Endicott was her former team during her first college season.
“At the end of day all of us want to win, especially me,” Donahue said. “It was fun to talk to them through the net and make friendly jokes. I wanted to win that game and I want to do it for my teammates, but also honor those that I got to play with before. It was a great opportunity, I’m so happy to see those guys again.”
Springfield was dominant on both sides of the ball. Five players recorded multiple kills and six obtained a block. Head coach Moira Long was proud of how her team played.
“It’s coming together,” Long said. “We still have some work to do on a few things. Serving in set two wasn’t as strong as I would’ve liked, but I felt like we were at ease — it felt like we didn’t get frantic or frazzled.”
Blake Arena was packed as after every play the sound of cheering could be heard from the crowd. Long believes it’s important that the crowd is known as a game changer.
“We have had unbelievable fans all year and for my entire career, so I’m grateful for anyone who comes into Blake Arena,” Long said. “People do not like to come to Blake Arena because of our fans, because they’re so loud and so engaged. [We] just want them to come in and support us, just like they always have.”
The Pride travel to Babson on Saturday for their last game of regular season play for a game with huge NEWMAC standing implications. Springfield can land as high as the two seed or as low as the four seed.