Castleton, VT - The Vermont State Univerity Lyndon volleyball team took on host Vermont State University Castleton in their final matchup of this year's Vermont Volleyball Classic on Sunday morning. The Hornets got off to a promising start in the match, but the Spartans eventually took control and came away with the win in straight sets, 25-18, 25-9, 25-12. It was Castleton's second win in as many starts, while Lyndon remained winless in three outings.
Castleton took an early 7-3 lead in the opening set before Lyndon found its bearings. The Hornets chipped away, however, and pulled even at 8-8 following a pari of Spartan errors. After a kill from Madison Sheehan put the Spartans back in front, Lyndon ran off three straight points to take an 11-9 lead. Lyndon still led, 14-12, following an ace from Taniya Davis (Colchester, VT), but Castleton regained the advantage with a four point run highlighted by a pair of kills from Jocelyn Ray. Lyndon pulled even on back to back Spartan attack errors, but the Spartans promptly pulled back in front. With Castleton leading, 20-18, the Spartans closed out the set with two Sheehan kills that bookended three straight aces from Connie Kuang.
The Spartans took control of the second set early on and never relinquished it. With Castleton leading, 6-2, a Spartan service error and an ace from Kyra Fessenden (Waterford, VT) goth the Hornets back within two. That would be as close as Lyndon would come, however, as Castleton pulled away for the 25-9 set win.
Set three again saw the Spartans take the early advantage and not let go. After Lyndon scored the first point on a Spartan service error, three Ray kills ignited a six point run that put the Spartans in front, 6-1. After the Hornets picked up a point on another service error, Castleton scored the next eight points in a row to put to rest any thoughts of a Hornet comeback. The Spartans pushed the lead to 24-8, before Lyndon put together a four point run on Davis' serve. It was not nearly enough, however, as Olivia Smith's kill clinched the set and the match for the Spartans.
Sheehan finished with ten kills to pace the Castleton attack. Setter Payton Vilmont recorded 11 assists and four aces, while Brianna Walsh notched eight digs. Riley McNamara (Manchester, NH), Nei'Shae Clegg (Coolidge, AZ), and Emily Lopez (Chicago, IL) had two kills apiece for the Hornets. Clegg and Davis had nine digs each.
The Hornets will return to the court on Thursday evening when they travel to New England College for a 6:00 pm non-conference match.
