EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. – The Johnson State College volleyball team fell to Massachusetts Maritime and Bay Path their season opening tri-match on Saturday afternoon.
MATCH 1 vs. Mass. Maritime
The Buccaneers took the first set 25-5 to go up 1-0. Mass. Maritime jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in the second set, but the Badgers bounced back and traded points to bring the score to 19-14, but the Buccaneers were able to rally off six straight points to take the 25-14 win. After going down 6-2 to start the third, Johnson went on a 6-1 run, capped by two straight aces by Kimberly Reville (Burke, N.Y.) to take an 8-7 lead. The Buccaneers slowly built their lead and held off a late Johnson surge to take the 25-19 victory.
STATS LEADERS
Reville led Johnson with five kills, six aces and three digs, while Emily Marshall (Malone, N.Y.) and Kaitlin Boucher (Barre, Vt.) each added two kills.
MATCH 2 vs. Bay Path
Bay Path gradually built a 22-12 lead, before Johnson stormed back with five straight points to pull within five at 22-17. The Wildcats were able to hold the Badgers off and take the 25-18 win. Bay Path kept their momentum going in the second set, taking a 25-8 victory. The teams were neck and neck through all of the third set, with Johnson holding a 20-18 lead. The Wildcats were able to put together a 7-1 run, putting the Badgers away 25-21.
STATS LEADERS
Reville and Boucher each had five kills to lead the team, with Reville adding five aces and two digs. Delanie Clark (Tupper Lake, N.Y.) led the team with five digs.
NEXT UP
The Badgers return to action on Friday, September 8th when they visit Smith College at 7:00 p.m.