Photos courtesy of Janard Jones/Lasell Athletics
The women’s volleyball team hut out the Bay Path Wildcats on Tuesday, improving their record to 12-11 on the season. The Lasers leave the athletic center with a two-game win streak in their palms and some much needed momentum to help them rise in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) standings.
With only eight regular-season games left, the Lasers rank fourth in the GNAC behind Simmons, Rivier, and Johnson and Wales. Tuesday’s win showed exactly why the Lasers find themselves in the position they are currently in.
During the first set, the Lasers quickly went up big and never looked back. Leading the charge was the offense which had seven straight kills and two straight service aces. A final kill by sophomore middle blocker Juliana Medini clinched the set for the Lasers 25-12.
The second set looked much like the first. Jumping out to a 17-9 lead were the Lasers, who seemed destined to go up two sets to none. Unfortunately for Coach Vautrin’s squad, the Wildcats came roaring back to tie the game at 21.
“We lost sight of what was important,” said sophomore setter Emily Cerasani. “We want to focus on executing because we were the better team.”
Sophomore outside hitter Hope McFall agrees with Cerasani saying that the Lasers should not be playing down to another team’s level and just “play how we know how to play.”
After a great team play, assisted by sophomore outside hitter McKenna McCool and freshman setter Saige Cambonga-Meyers, the Lasers willed themselves to a second-set victory thanks to a kill from sophomore outside hitter Hope McFall.
Having no answers for the Lasers offense were the Wildcats, who once again, found themselves in a large deficit in the third set. Despite a strong start by the Wildcats who evened the game at seven apiece, the Lasers went on an eight to nothing run, largely because of the stellar offensive and defensive play from sophomore middle blocker Madalyn Scully.
Scully, who has been a formidable obstacle for opponents all season, helped the Lasers win the final set 25-13 with a game-winning spike. It was her 60th kill of the season.
The Lasers will travel into “Beantown” to face Emmanuel College next Saturday at 10am.