Springfield, Mass. – September 19, 2023 – The Springfield College women's volleyball team began New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Tuesday night in Blake Arena with a straight-set victory over Wheaton.  Springfield won by the scores of 26-24, 25-14, 25-12. 

Springfield lifted its record to 11-1, 1-0 in conference action, while Wheaton dropped to 7-2, 0-1.

Maeve Voltz (Bay Shore, N.Y.) was dominant in the middle, totaling 10 kills at a .533 clip to go along with four blocks, while fellow middle Olivia Gentry (Cincinnati, Ohio) chipped in seven kills and three blocks.  Natalie Billet (Commack, N.Y.) was impressive all over the court, accounting for eight kills, seven digs, and four aces, Tori Colosimo (Fairport, N.Y.) registered 25 assists, and Ally Townsend (Hummelstown, Pa.) notched a team-best 12 digs. 

Wheaton jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the first set, but a three-point spurt that was sandwiched by a pair of kills from Billet forced the visitors into an early timeout.  Wheaton would push its lead back to 15-12 following back-to-back aces and the Pride would later face a 23-18 deficit late.  However, Springfield would rattle off a 6-0 burst, capped off by a stuff block from Voltz to earn set point, and Riley Donahue (South Windsor, Conn.) would later blast her lone kill of the set in transition for the 26-24 win. 

Rachel Hegarty (Manhasset, N.Y.) converted a kill out of a Wheaton timeout to give Springfield a 9-6 edge in the second and would later deliver an ace at 15-9 as the Lyons burned their final timeout of the stanza. Thanks to 10 hitting errors by the visitors, Springfield would ease its way to a 25-14 win. 

Springfield again benefitted from Wheaton hitting negative as a team in the third set, but this time the hosts were particulary efficient on the offensive end, producing a .500 team hitting percentage behind a combined eight kills by Voltz and Gentry. Knotted up at 6-6, Springfield closed out the stanza on a 19-6 run, with Gentry accounting for the Pride's 13th kill of the frame in the 25-12 victory.  

It will be a busy Saturday for the Pride as it heads into Cambridge for a tri-match with MIT and UC Santa Cruz, beginning at 11 am. 

For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.