BRONXVILLE, N.Y. — The Sarah Lawrence College women's volleyball team dropped a four-set decision to Stevens Institute of Technology, 25-15, 23-25, 25-17, 25-16, on Thursday, September 10 at the Campbell Sports Center.
The Gryphons move to 4-1 on the season, while the Ducks improve to 3-1.
Sarah Lawrence was led offensively by junior
Nikolet Vataj and first-year
Caroline Combs, who each recorded nine kills. First-year
Charlee Leonard added a season-best eight kills, including four in the third set.
Sophomore
Sophia Costa directed the Gryphons' offense with 26 assists while adding six digs, one kill and a block assist. First-year libero
Kai Perkins anchored the back row with a team-high 15 digs, along with three assists, one kill and an ace.
Stevens controlled the opening set, turning an 8-7 deficit into a 23-11 advantage behind a 16-3 run. The Ducks closed out the frame, 25-15.
The Gryphons answered in the second set. After Stevens tied the score at 5-5, Sarah Lawrence used an 8-1 run to take a 12-6 lead. Vataj accounted for four kills during the stretch. Stevens battled back to even the score at 23-23, but Sarah Lawrence responded with consecutive kills from Vataj and Combs to take the set, 25-23, and even the match.
Sarah Lawrence grabbed an early 5-4 lead in the third set before Stevens responded with a 7-1 run to move in front, 11-6. The Ducks later used a four-point run to extend their lead to 22-13 and went on to take the set, 25-17. Leonard paced the Gryphons with four kills in the frame.
Stevens carried the momentum into the fourth set, opening with a 9-3 run. Sarah Lawrence cut the deficit to three at 12-9, but the Ducks pulled away late, closing the set on a 25-16 score to secure the match.
Stevens finished the match with a .270 hitting percentage compared to .070 for Sarah Lawrence. The Ducks also held advantages in kills (55-35), assists (52-32), digs (57-44), aces (8-3), blocks (7-3) and total points (70-41).
The Gryphons return to action Saturday, September 12, traveling to Bard College for a tri-match. Sarah Lawrence will face Bard at 11:00 a.m. before taking on Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts at 1:00 p.m.
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