Springfield, Mass. - September 16, 2022 - The Springfield College women's volleyball team swept Wellesley in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday afternoon in Blake Arena. Sets scores of the match were 25-11, 25-22, 25-11. 

The Pride, which was receiving votes in the latest AVCA Division III National Poll, is now 7-1, 2-0 on the season, while the Blue fell to 3-5, 0-2.  Ally Townsend (Hummelstown, Pa.) led all players with 21 digs, Riley Donahue (South Windsor, Conn.) recorded 15 kills and a .440 clip, and Megan Kirtyan (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) was credited with 30 assists in leading Springfield to a .356 hitting percentage.

Behind the strong serving from Townsend, Springfield jumped out to a 5-1 lead before Donohue hammered a kill down the line at 11-5 to force the Blue into its first timeout of the day.  Maeve Voltz (Bay Shore, N.Y.) and Donahue each had four kills in the opening set as the Pride hit .385 and held the visitors to a -.062 hitting percentage en route to the 25-11 win.

In the second set, it was Wellesley that jumped out to an early lead forcing the Pride into their first timeout at 8-3. Out of the timeout, Springfield regrouped and went on a 9-4 run to tie the set at 12 off a swing from Jamie Albrecht (Selden, N.Y.). A kill from Elsie Phillips (Granby, Conn.) gave the Pride their first lead of the set at 16-15 and the Blue would call for their final timeout of the set trailing 23-19.  Wellesley would respond with the next three points as the Pride burned a timeout of its own, but Olivia Gentry (Loveland, Ohio) converted out of the middle for set point and Albrecht delivered a transition kill for the 25-22 victory.

Another big service run from Townsend that was capped off by a kill from Natalie Billet (Commack, N.Y.) allowed the Pride to gain a commanding 14-6 lead in the third. The lead ballooned to 20-10 on a block from Donahue and Kylie Wixted (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) and Aurissa Boardman (Brooklyn, Conn.) hammered home the kill off the block to give the hosts match point.  Wellesley would commit its ninth attack error of theset for the 25-11 decision, a frame in which Springfield produced a .462 hitting percentage.. 

Springfield will continue conference play on Tuesday when it travels to Babson for a 7 pm match. 

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