Lyndonville, VT - The Vermont State University Lyndon volleyball team played at home for the first time today, hosting Anna Maria College and Paul Smith's College for a tri-match. Unfortunately for the home team, they came up on the wrong side of both results, falling to both the Amcats and the Bobcats in straight sets. Anna Maria downed Paul Smith's in four sets in the day's other match.
Match #1 - Anna Maria 3, VTSU Lyndon 0 (25-10, 25-16, 25-14)
The Amcats surged ahead early in the first set, using a 9-1 run keyed by three aces from Rilie Mendoza to build a double-digit lead. Kiara Mack (Winooski, VT) broke the run with a kill to the back corner, but Anna Maria never looked back in the opener.
In the second set, the Hornets hung close behind kills from Mack and Sydney Clunis (Windsor, ON), pulling within 12-9. However, Anna Maria responded with another long service run, sparked by back-to-back kills from Lauren Decoteau, to stretch the margin to 18-10.
Lyndon again stayed within striking distance in the third, closing to 10-8 after an Anna Maria error, but the Amcats rattled off seven straight points to take control and close out the match.
Mack paced the Hornets with six kills, while Clunis added eight digs. Mendoza led Anna Maria with seven aces and seven kills.
Match #2 - Anna Maria 3, Paul Smith's 1 (14-25, 25-16, 25-23, 25-21
After dropping the first set, Anna Maria rallied for the victory.
Match #3 - Paul Smith's 3, VTSU Lyndon 0 (25-16, 25-4, 25-16)
The Hornets started strong in the opening set, trading points to 8-8 behind two early kills from Mack. But Paul Smith's broke the set open with a 7-1 spurt highlighted by three kills from Finnley Jacobson, and the Bobcats never trailed again.
The second set turned quickly, as Paul Smith's reeled off the first 11 points, including four aces by Jacobson. T he Hornets finally got on the board with a kill from Olivia Cordova (Craig, CO), but the Bobcats' momentum carried them to a decisive 25-4 win.
Lyndon regrouped in the third, pulling within 12-10 on a Cordova ace, but Paul Smith's answered with a 6-0 run capped by back-to-back kills from Maddi Rhodes. From there, the Bobcats maintained control to finish the sweep.
Mack led Lyndon with four kills, while Cordova tallied 11 digs. Jacobson paced Paul Smith's with 14 kills and seven aces, and Rhodes chipped in 13 kills and 15 digs.
Lyndon remains winless in eight starts this season. With two wins, Anna Maria improved to 3-2 on the campaign. A split left Paul Smith's at 2-3.
The Hornets will return to action on Tuesday evening when they travel to Albertus Magnus for a 6:00 pm start.
