Johnson, VT

The Carter gym was welcomed back into action this Fall as the NVU-Johnson Women's Volleyball team hosted the Plattsburgh State University Cardinals in an NCAA match-up.

The Cardinals started the match off on a 6-0 to catch the Badgers off guard.  As Payon Zophy served 5 straight points for the visiting Cardinals.  The Badgers found a little footing with the help of setter Mason Lores, fresh off matches for the Badgers women's tennis team.  In those matches, which occurred prior to the volleyball match, Lores won the #1 singles, #1 doubles and help lead the Badgers Tennis team to an 8-1 victory.

As Lores began to find her hitters, Christina Betham helped bring the Badgers to within 4 points to close the gap 23-20 late in the set.  Following two unforced errors by the Badgers the Cardinals win the first set 25-20.

The second set was back and forth with neither team taking control early on.  Things change quickly as the Cardinal went on a 4 point run to go up 16-11 before the Badger started clawing back.  The run for the Badgers started with an service ace from Lores, followed up by another kill from Betham.  A few errors from the Cardinals and the match was all tied up at 17-17.

Neither team would take control over the final points of the match as neither team took more than a 1 point lead before the Badger had back to back points from Lores and then a kill from Yatzari Allen.

The third set started similar to the first set as the Cardinals took an early lead behind the services of Payton Zophy.  The Badgers found a burst of energy in the 3rd set from freshman Vanessa Chavez and Natalia Medina, both will timely kills for the Badgers.  As the Badgers took control of the 3rd set fellow freshman Alana Lewis found herself in the middle of the action for the Badgers and providing a powerful serves as the Badgers rattle off 6 straight points on Lewis serves for the win.

The Cardinals once again had a strong start getting up an 19-12 lead over the Badgers.  Following a service error for the Cardinals the Badgers Mercedes Durden helped the Badgers get 4 points back on her serve and then teammate Chavez's serve rotation brought the Badgers to within 1 at 20-19.  The Badgers looked to take the fourth set behind the arm of Medina serving and closing the gap to 23-21 leaded.  The next four points belonged to the Cardinals as the Badgers unforced errors and a lone service ace for the Cardinals provided them with a 25-23 set win.

Heading into the 5th and final set of the night the Badgers jumped out quickly with the help of timely and well placed serves from Lores for 5 early points.  A point for Plattsburgh and the 2 more from the Badgers looked as if NVU-Johnson was going to take the set.  Plattsburgh tried start a run of their own, but the Badgers would not be denied on their home court.  The Badgers did not allowed any runs of points for the Cardinals as back to back kills from Chavez and Medina help the Badgers to a competitive and well played set win of 15-8 and a match victory of 3-2.

Next up for the Badgers will be will be Cobly-Sawyer as they travel to New London, NH.

Go Badgers

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