CASTLETON, Vt. – Sitting just three points from winning in four sets, the Hornets dropped the fourth and fifth sets in a 3-2 loss to Castleton in the North Atlantic Quarterfinals in Glenbrook Gym on Saturday afternoon.
 
Castleton came out slow on Saturday and dropped the first set 25-21 before taking the second 25-23. The Hornets won the third, 27-25, but the Spartans took the final two, 25-23 & 15-13. They improve to 10-13 with the win and advance to the NAC Semifinals for the second consecutive year. Lyndon St. concludes their season with a 9-12 record.
 
Kaylee Pratt was Castleton's most effective hitter on Saturday, hitting .175 with a career-high 14 kills. Amanda Chambers added seven kills and a game-high 27 digs as the Spartans totaled 97 in the match. Kristi Lawless was second on the team with 20 digs while Brittany Brayman added 14. Michaela Babineau had a solid game with 11 assists, four aces and three digs.
 
For Lyndon, Abbey Greene (Exeter, R.I.) finished with a double-double of 13 kills and 12 digs. Sara Adams (Alton, N.H.) added 13 kills while Morgan Diltz (Moultoborough, N.H.) finished with 25 digs and five aces. Kelleigh Murtagh Merrimack, N.H.) also had five aces to go with 17 digs.
 
In the opening set, Castleton fell behind early and was never really able to recover as they lost 25-21. However, in the second the Spartans played even with Lyndon St. through the first 14 points. The two teams drew even at 20 apiece and Castleton scored five of the final eight points, with the last coming on a block by Chi Vo to tie it 1-1.
 
The Spartans opened the fourth set with an 18-8 advantage and were on the verge of victory up 24-17. However, the Hornets scored eight straight to stave off defeat and actually take a 25-24 lead. They finished with a 27-25 win in the set.
 
Castleton looked to be on the edge of defeat, trailing 22-18 in the fourth set. However the team went on a 4-1 run to draw within one, 23-22. Consecutive attack errors by the Hornets put the Spartans on the verge of victory before Brittany Brayman ended the set with a kill.
 
Castleton never trailed in the fifth set and was tied 11-11 and 13-13 before a service error by Diltz and a kill by Kaylee Pratt lifted the Spartans to the victory.