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New England College

Kaylee Montgomery
Photo: Meaghan Marcus
2
MCLA MCLA 1-8, 0-0 MASCAC
3
Winner New England Col. NEW ENGL 3-5, 0-0 GNAC
MCLA MCLA
1-8, 0-0 MASCAC
2
Final
3
New England Col. NEW ENGL
3-5, 0-0 GNAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
MCLA MCLA 23 25 25 19 15 (2)
New England Col. NEW ENGL 25 21 20 25 17 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Women’s Volleyball Outlasts MCLA in Five Set Thriller

HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's volleyball team came away with a hard-fought victory in five sets against visiting Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) on Tuesday evening at Bridges Gymnasium in Henniker, New Hampshire.  

THE BASICS 
Score: MCLA 2, New England College 3 (25-23, 21-25, 20-25, 25-19, 17-15) 
Records: Trailblazers 1-8 | Pilgrims 3-5 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

  • NEC dominated in the early stages of the first setting, jumping out to a 6-0 lead and later expanding that lead to double digits at a score of 19-9. But an 11-2 run by the visitors from North Adams, Massachusetts quickly reduced the deficit to one point. The set would later be knotted up at 22-apiece and the 'Grims would take three of the next four points, including two kills from sophomore outside hitter Samantha Winters (Dover, N.H.), to take the first set 25-23. 
  • In the second set, it was MCLA who got off to a quick start, winning four of the first five points. The Pilgrims did not trail for long, however, grabbing the lead at 7-6 and going on a 10-5 run to expand the NEC lead to five. Again, MCLA was not finished, and responded to the NEC run with an 11-4 run of their own to take the lead, 22-20. This time, it would be the Trailblazers who would close out the set with three of the final four points.  
  • The 'Grims started the third set on a 5-0 run off the serve of sophomore setter Alexandra Seijas (Fort Myers, Fla.) who added two service aces. In a game of runs, MCLA would surge back into the set with a 5-1 run, which was immediately responded by the 'Grims with four consecutive points to force a Trailblazers timeout. Coming out of the stoppage, a 7-2 run by the visitors would prompt NEC to take a timeout of their own. The 'Grims would get as close as within two, but MCLA would hold on for a 25-20 third set win to go up two sets to one. 
  • Down 6-4 in set number four, following an NEC timeout, the Pilgrims would respond with an 8-0 run to seize control of the set. MCLA would claw back late, but NEC would hold on to take the pivotal fourth set, 25-19, on a kill by junior outside hitter Lily-Anne Heywood (Derry, N.H.). Heywood led the team with five kills in the set to send the game to a tie-breaking fifth set. 
  • After a back-and-forth affair across the first four sets of the match, a competitive fifth set seemed like a guarantee – and these two teams did not disappoint. The set saw eight lead changes in an electric final set that saw the two teams deadlocked at 14-14. Heywood, who had four kills in the set, would put the 'Grims up 15-14, but a kill by MCLA's Makenna Carter (Averill Park, N.Y.) would make it 15-15. In a potentially game-altering point, freshman middle-blocker LisaRaye Placencio (Maricopa, Ariz.) made multiple blocks at the net before finishing off a kill to put the 'Grims up one. With a chance to secure the win, up 16-15, junior middle-blocker Kaylee Montgomery (Weare, N.H.) finished off a point at the net to secure the set and the match for the Pilgrims. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

  • Winters had 12 kills on the night, as did graduate middle-blocker Tatiana Sampson (Kailua, Hawaii) as they tied for the team-lead. Sampson added a game-high five service aces and three blocks. 
  • Heywood came up huge for the 'Grims, adding 11 kills and 16 digs.  
  • Placencio was a major disrupter at the net for NEC with five blocks and five kills. 
  • Seijas paced the Pilgrims with 20 assists and junior setter Aurora Gutierrez-Macias (El Paso, Tex.) was right behind her with 19 assists on top of her 16 digs. 
  • Sophomore libero Alyssa Dunbar-Molina (El Paso, Tex.) led NEC with 24 digs. MCLA's Chloie Garber (Eagle River, Alaska) led the Trailblazers with 18 digs. 
  • NEC played its best when it mattered most – posting a .409 hitting percentage in the fifth set – the best hitting percentage across any set for either team all night. 

UP NEXT 

  • NEC is back on the court on Saturday, September 21st, when they head to Weston, Massachusetts, for a tri-match against Elms College and Regis College beginning at 1:00 PM against the Blazers. 
  • MCLA returns to action on Saturday for a tri-match of their own hosted by SUNY Delhi set to start at 11:00 AM.

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.  

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