WPI Volleyball drops season-finale to Babson, 0-3
Babson 3, WPI 0
Babson Park, MA --- The Babson College women's volleyball team shut out visiting WPI, 3-0, in the final match of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season on Saturday, winning by game scores of 30-25, 30-14, 30-18. The Beavers (8-16, 2-7 NEWMAC) now have their highest win total since 2002, and with a loss by Mount Holyoke can secure their first bid to the conference tournament since that same season.
The two teams played evenly until midway through the first game, when Babson first-year Caitlin O'Neill (Lynnfield, MA) served four straight points, including three aces, to snap a 16-16 tie and give the Beavers a 20-16 advantage. Babson would go on to win the opening game, 30-25, before cruising in the final two sets, 30-14 and 30-18, to clinch the match.
O'Neill finished with a match-high five aces, while junior Carlen Palau (Silver Spring, MD) hit .400 (7-1-15) to go along with seven digs. Rookie Heather Risso (Carlisle, MA) and junior captain Mandi Blackmer (Honeoye, NY) added five kills apiece in the victory, while first-year Shanna Glassner (Orland Park, IL) amassed team-highs of 17 assists and 10 digs.
For WPI, senior tri-captain Jennifer Parker (Rochester, MA) and first-year Becca Holmberg (Madison, Conn.) each finished with a match-high 12 digs, while Parker also dished out 19 assists. Sophomore Christina Grant (Mansfield, Mass.) led all players with nine kills for the Engineers, who end their season with a record of 11-16 overall and 0-9 in the conference.
Release courtesty of Babson Sports Information