CASTLETON, Vt. - The Western Connecticut State University women's volleyball squad battled through 10 total sets on the road Saturday at Glenbrook Gymnasium, opening with a gritty five-set win over host VTSU-Castleton in the Little East Conference opener for both teams before dropping a back-and-forth five-setter to non-conference opponent Russell Sage later in the day.
WestConn 3, VTSU Castleton 2 (21-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-23, 15-9)
WestConn trailed 2-0 in a tough opening set — Castleton's Alondra Rojas served four straight points, including three aces — but the Wolves settled in from there. Senior Julia Stoliker (Red Hook, N.Y.) turned in a monster all-around day, matching a team-high 14 kills while also serving four aces and digging nine balls. Sophomore Sophia Siruchek (Campbell Hall, N.Y.) also racked up 14 kills of her own, and sophomore Hallie Robillard (Middletown, Conn.) added 10 kills and 11 digs. Freshman Kayla Proscia (Holbrook, N.Y.) was a difference-maker at the net with a team-high six blocks, and classmate Sadie Casella (Marlboro, N.Y.) paced the defense with 20 digs. Rookie setter Kyra Courtemanche (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) ran the offense in relief with 32 assists after junior Arianna LaPointe (Boynton Beach, Fla.) departed after one set, and the Wolves closed it out by pulling away in the decisive fifth set, 15-9.
Russell Sage 3, WestConn 2 (26-24, 24-26, 25-17, 20-25, 16-14)
In the second match of the day, WestConn built a two-sets-to-none lead only to see the Gators rally. Graduate student Taylor Thompson (West Point, N.Y.) turned in the best individual effort of the match, posting 12 kills and four aces while freshman Kayla Proscia added 11 kills. Robillard chipped in 10 kills, and Courtemanche again ran the show with 16 assists and a team-high 12 digs, while LaPointe added 27 assists in her return to the floor. Stoliker notched nine kills and eight digs across four sets, and first-year Natalyse Cuza came off the bench to add a trio of kills in a short but efficient outing. Despite the balanced production, Russell Sage's Amarilis Vélez-Gómez (22 kills) proved too much down the stretch, and the Gators closed it out in five.
The split moves WestConn to 3-10 overall (1-0 Little East) on the season. The Wolves return to action when they host non-league foe Trinity College on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
