Lyndonville, VT - The Verfmont State University Lyndon volleyball team rallied from two set down to defeat Vermont State University Randolph, then completed the sweep of the Knights with a straight set win in the nightcap of Sunday's doubleheader. The wins, Lyndon's first since a sweep of Lesley University in October of 2023, end a 37-match winless streak and lift the Hornets' record to 2-13 on the season. Randolph fell to 2-11 on the season.
Match #1 - VTSU Lyndon 3, VTSU Randolph 2 (21-25, 20-25, 25-8, 25-14, 15-12)
The visiting nights wasted no time jumping on the Hornets in the first match. Randolph ran off nine straight points on Jasmine Mooney's serve to take an 11-2 lead. Lyndon began to chip away, however, and Kiara Mack's (Winooski, VT) ace pulled the Hornets within 20-19. That was as close as Lyndon would get, however, as Randolph was able to close out the set.
The second set followed a similar pattern, as Randolph took the early lead and extended it to as much as 16-7. Lyndon again fought back, and got as close as three points following a Nei'Shae Clegg (Coolidge, AZ) kill, but the Knights were able to hold the Hornets off and take a seemingly commanding two-set lead.
Lyndon was able to grab the early lead in set three. With a 15-8 lead, Mack delivered a kill, then Sydney Clunis (Windsor, ON) was able to win nine straight points on service, giving Lyndon their first set.
The fourth set was a back and forth affair in the early going. With Lyndon leading 12-11, two Mack kills book ended two Clunis aces to give the Hornets some breathing room. Lyndon was able to hold off Randolph the rest of the set to even the match.
In the fifth and deciding set Lyndon took a quick 4-0 lead on the strength of Clunis' service. Clegg later served four straight points to give the Hornets a seemingly commanding 11-4 advantage. With the Hornets one point from victory at 14-6, the Knights put on a desperate rally. With Anna McKillop serving, Randolph ran off six straight points, keyed by a pair of Mooney kills. Mack was then able to deliver the game winner off of an assist from Kazandra Gonzalez (Norwalk, CA), giving Lyndon the win.
Mack finished with 21 kills and 27.0 points, breaking the Lyndon modern Division III era single game records in both categories. She eclipsed the marks of 18 kills set by Kelleigh Murtagh in 2018 and 26.0 points set by Morgan Diltz in 2013. Mack added 12 digs and five aces.
Clunis also had a huge match. She nearly set another school record, as her 35 digs stands as second only to the mark of 39 set by Ally Ciaramitaro in 2008. Clunis added a match high eight aces. Clegg finished with 11 kills and 26 digs. Gonzalez added 18 assists and 30 digs, while Olivia Cordova (Craig, CO) posted 17 assists and 11 digs.
Deanna Heintz had a big match for Randolph, finishing with 14 kills and 28 digs. McKillop recorded 18 assists and a match high 36 digs.
Match #2 - VTSU Lyndon 3, VTSU Randolph 0 (18-25, 18-25, 23-25)
Riding the momentum of their first win, Lyndon got off to a fast start in the nightcap. After a Randolph serving error, Lyndon ran off five more points on Clunis' serve. Lyndon expanded their lead to 21-9. A late Randolph rally pulled the Knights to within 22-16, but that would be as close as teh set would get.
Randolph jumped in front, 9-4, early in set two. The Hornets were able to chip away, however, and back to back aces from Gonzalez squared the score at 16-16. After a Layton Moulton kill put Randolph back in front, two Mack kills and a Knight error gave Lyndon the lead. With the Hornets clinging to a 19-18 advantage, a six point run on Clunis's serve closed out the set.
The third set was back and forth through the early going. With the score tied at 13-13, Randolph ran off six straight points on McKillop's serve. Lyndon responded with a five-point run of their own to pull within 19-18, but a four-point run capped by a Heintz kill had Randolph two points from taking the set and getting back in the match. A Mack kill gave Gonzalez the serve, and after a Knight attack error, five straight Hornet kills, three from Mack and two from Clegg, gave Lyndon the straight set victory.
Mack again paced the Lyndon attack, finishing with 12 kills. Clunis had another stellar game on the back line with 31 digs, the third most in program history, and nine aces. Gonzalez notched ten assists and 21 digs and Cordova added eight assists and 14 digs.
Heinz led Randolph with a match high 13 kills and 25 digs. McKillop recorded 16 assists and 20 digs.
The Hornets go on the road to Presque Isle, Me, next weekend. On Friday they will face the University of Maine at Fort Kent in a 7:00 pm non-conference matchup. Then on Saturday they will square off against host University of Maine at Presque Isle in a North Atlantic Conference contest, followed by a non-conference affair.
