10/09/2007
Volleyball Outlasts Mount Holyoke, 3-2

WORCESTER, MASS. 10/9/07 - The Clark University women’s volleyball team snapped a five-match losing skid with a thrilling 3-2 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory over Mount Holyoke College on Senior Night Tuesday at the Kneller Athletic Center. The Cougars won the first two games 30-27, 30-24, before dropping the next two, 17-30, 18-30. Clark rebounded to win the deciding fifth game, 15-13.

After losing 15 straight games, Clark broke into the win column to improve to 5-13 overall and 1-5 in league play. MHC dips to 5-10 and 1-5 in the NEWMAC.

In the opener, it was a back and forth battle with neither team leading by more than five until Clark went up 26-21. A Cougar error and a service ace by MHC’s Teresa Campbell (Williamsburg, Va.) closed the gap to within three (23-26). However, a 4-3 Clark burst highlighted by a kill from Emily Visone (West Hempstead, N.Y.), consecutive slams from Liz Magier (Newburgh, N.Y.) and a spike from Sarah Hunsucker (Orinda, Cali.) gave the Cougars the 30-27 win.

Clark jumped out to a 13-3 advantage in game two. Later in the game, the Cougars held an 11-point lead (28-17), but a late Lyons charge including four-straight service points from Kendall Burns (Houston, Tx.) cut the deficit to 22-28. Clark closed out the game on a tip by Kate Head (Lexington, Mass.) and Karleen Porcena’s (Roxbury, Mass.) kill for the 30-24 victory.

Mount Holyoke would not be denied as they never trailed in game three. The Lyons led by as many as eight (25-17) on a solo-block from Burns and eventually took the game (30-17) behind three straight kills from Campbell, Rachel West (St. Paul, Minn.) and Burns.

Trailing by two (9-11) on a spike by Hunsucker, Clark would get no closer in game four. Chelsea Tracy’s (St. Thomas, Virgin Islands) cross-court kill gave the Lyons their largest lead (21-16) and a back row kill from Burns capped the scoring with a 30-18 victory.

With the score knotted at 11, Clark took its first lead since game two on consecutive MHC errors for a 13-12 edge in the deciding fifth game. Kylie Kutney’s (Commerce, Mich.) ace made it 14-12, but her ensuing service error made it a one-point game (14-13). However, Hunsucker tipped the ball in an open area of the court to secure the overall 3-2 victory.

Hunsucker and Magier paced Clark with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Visone led the Cougars defensively with 24 digs, while Magier added 14 and Hunsucker and Brittany Meadows (Los Angeles, Cali.) finished with 12 digs apiece. Kutney had 36 assists, 11 digs, and three service aces.

Amanda Trask (Brockton, Mass.) had 15 kills to lead Mount Holyoke. Burns recorded 14 kills, Kathryne Schwartz (Ridgewood, N.J.) added 28 digs, and West handed out 40 assists.

Prior to tonight’s game, seniors Sarah Hunsucker, Pamela Tayler and Kate Head were honored for playing in their final home regular season contest.

Clark will travel to Western New England College for a non-conference match on Saturday (2 p.m.). Mount Holyoke will compete in the Smith College Invitational this weekend.