By Chris Gionta
@Chris_Gionta
Springfield College women’s volleyball swept Bates College on Friday night in Blake Arena, winning each set 25-17, 25-15, and 25-19 respectively.
Friday night was Springfield women’s volleyball’s senior night, where they honored Briana Tovar, Ashley Tanner, Sara Labadorf, and Camryn Bancroft before the match began. Yet, it ended up being first-year players Jamie Albrecht and Natalie Billet taking over against Bates. Albrecht had the most points on the team with 16, contributing nine kills, six service aces, and two block assists.
“I think Jamie (Albrecht) just continues to get better and better with each match,” said Springfield head coach Moira Long. “She started off with an injury at the beginning of the year, so she really wasn’t in preseason, which I think kind of slowed her down a little bit. But it’s really great to have her playing six rotations and playing great defense, which I think lends to her offense for sure.”
Billet, meanwhile, was right behind her in points with 15, with 12 coming off of kills.
Springfield did not break away in the first set until about midway through. Bates went up 10-9 in the set, then Springfield went on an 8-2 run to make it 17-12, Springfield, and force a Bates timeout. Springfield ended up winning the set by the score of 25-17. Albrecht led the way with five kills and four service aces, along with four digs on the defensive side.
The Pride were never quite in danger in the second set, as after they took an 8-4 lead, their lead was not less than four for the rest of the set. They won the set, 25-15, with Albrecht adding four kills, and first-year Kylie Wixted contributing to five blocks.
They kept the momentum going into the third set, starting out with a 10-5 lead. This forced a Bates timeout, which seemed rather productive, as they went on an 11-5 run to give themselves a 16-15 lead in the third set. For Springfield’s 17th point of the set, they underwent the longest volley that the Blake Arena crowd has seen this season, which ended on a Natalie Billet kill, prompting the attendants to get on their feet for an ovation.
This was Billet’s first kill of the set, but it started a dominant run of her own where she executed kills for six of the Pride’s final nine points. Springfield won the set by the score of 25-19.
Springfield’s next match will be at Blake Arena against Coast Guard on Tuesday night at 7 p.m., where they will be looking to extend their winning streak to seven.
Photo: Danielle Schmelling/The Student