Springfield, Mass. - October 13, 2022- The Springfield College women's volleyball team prevailed in a thrilling four-set non-conference win over Amherst on Thursday night in Blake Arena by the scores of 23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 27-25.

Springfield has now strung together six-straight victories to improve to 14-4, while the Mammoths slipped to 9-5 with the setback. 

The Pride put together one of the best blocking performances in the country this season as it racked up a season-best 13.0 team blocks in just four sets.  Maeve Voltz (Bay Shore, N.Y.) led all players with seven blocks to go along with eight kills, while fellow middle Olivia Gentry (Loveland, Ohio) contributed 13 kills and four blocks.  Riley Donahue (South Windsor, Conn.) was dominant for the Pride with a match-best 19 kills to go along with 15 digs, and six blocks.  Ally Townsend (Hummelstown, Pa.) turned in a 21-dig performance and ripped four aces and Megan Kirtyan (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) ended the night with 42 assists. 

Springfield used a 3-0 burst to take a 15-12 lead in the first on an overpass kill from Gentry, only to have the Mammoths respond with a three-point run of their own to force the Pride into a timeout.  In a set that featured 14 ties, a big swing from Donahue would knot the frame up at 22-apiece, but Amherst delivered consecutive kills to gain some breathing room en route to the 25-23 win. Gentry, Donahue, and Natalie Billet (Commack, N.Y.) combined for 15 of the Pride's 18 first-set kills. 

Kirtyan and Voltz combined for a block to give Springfield an early 3-0 edge, but Amherst would find its rhythm to midway through the frame and manufactured a 6-1 surge to regain a 16-13 lead.  Facing a 22-20 deficit late in the set, Springfield's Julia O'Connor (Rocky Hill, Conn.) delivered a sideout kill before Donahue took over with a monster stuff block and back-to-back kills before the visitors 10th attack error of the set completed the 25-22 win for the Pride.

Springfield spotted Amherst a 9-2 lead to begin the third set as the Pride committed five attack errors in the early going.  Springfield would storm back to knot things up at 10-all after Gentry converted a hard angle swing in transition, but Amherst would bounce back to take a 16-14 lead as the hosts called for another timeout.  Voltz registered a kill out of the break and jumpstarted a 8-1 surge that was capped off by a swing from Donahue at 22-17.  Amherst made it interesting with a 5-1 push of its own to close with 23-22, only to have Donahue find the deep corner to earn set point and Jamie Albrecht (Selden, N.Y.) bang a kill down the line in transition for the 25-22 victory. 

Another fast start allowed Amherst to take a 4-0 lead in the fourth and later led 19-15 as Springfield whistled for its final timeout of the set.  The visitors would push their lead to 23-18, but Springfield would score the next four points, with Voltz accounting for two blocks and a kill in the spurt.  Amherst would earn set point following a kill, but Donahue hammered her 19th kill of the night before Townsend delivered back-to-back aces to give Springfield match point.  A sideout kill from Amherst would stem the tide, only to have an Amherst service error and Kirtyan ace, the Pride's ninth of the night, complete the four-set win. 

Springfield will host its third match of the week on Saturday when it takes on Emerson in an important New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) match at 2 pm.

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