Over this past weekend, the Case Western Reserve University volleyball team opened conference play with a trip to Rochester, New York for the first University Athletic Association (UAA) Round Robin of the season. The Spartans lost to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of Chicago (UChicago) on Saturday, Sept. 26 before closing the weekend with a sweep of host University of Rochester on Sunday, Sept. 27.
Reflecting on the weekend, third-year setter Avery Basinger applauded the persistence of her teammates even through the setbacks against CMU and UChicago.
“I think our team had a great mindset all weekend, even when we were down sets against UChicago and CMU,” Basinger said. “We kept fighting no matter the score, which kept our energy high and the sets close.”
To kick off the Round Robin run, the Spartans faced then-No. 8 ranked CMU. The match began relatively close, with both teams going neck-and-neck and CWRU eventually working its way to a 14-13 lead. However, a 7-1 run from the Tartans allowed them to pull away with the lead and take the set 25-19. The second set followed a similar pattern; after falling behind 11-7, CWRU responded with five straight points, including two aces from Basinger, to take a 12-11 lead. The Spartans remained within one point at 19-18, but CMU closed the set on a 6-2 run to win 25-20.
The third set was tightly contested, featuring eight ties through the first 22 points. CWRU remained within three points at 19-16 before another CMU run put the Tartans in position to close out the match. CMU eventually took the set, 25-18, completing the 3-0 sweep of the Spartans.
Later on Saturday, CWRU faced then-No. 24 ranked UChicago. The Maroons took control of the contest early, turning an 8-7 lead in the first set into a 16-8 advantage before going on to take the opening set 25-12. The Spartans were quick to respond in the second set, fighting their way to a 9-6 lead after trailing 6-5. CWRU maintained the pressure and held a 15-14 advantage before UChicago regained control, finishing the set with nine of the final 11 points to win 25-19.
The Spartans did not let down, however, continuing to put up a fight in the third set as the two teams battled through 10 ties; CWRU eventually took a 21-19 lead. UChicago answered with three straight points, but first-year outside hitter Maya Zarow tied the set at 22 with a kill. The Maroons then scored the final three points to take the set 25-22 and complete the sweep.
On Sunday, the Spartans returned to the court in Rochester ready to bounce back from their prior struggles, and they did just that as they swept the hosts 3-0. CWRU came out strong in the opening set, winning nine consecutive points on the serve of first-year Ava Felgar to build an 11-2 lead. Rochester battled back and cut the deficit to one at 19-18, but the Spartans responded by winning the final four points to take the set, 25-19.
The second set was another close contest, with neither team leading by more than two points until an attacking error by the Yellowjackets gave CWRU a 15-12 advantage. The Yellowjackets tied the score at 15, but the Spartans answered with a 4-1 run that enabled them to hold on to their lead, culminating in a 25-21 victory. This momentum carried into the third set, as the Spartans used a 7-1 run to take a 19-12 advantage. Rochester again attempted to rally, but CWRU maintained control and closed out the set, 25-19, completing the 3-0 sweep.
Commenting on the win against Rochester, CWRU’s first UAA win of the season, Basinger highlighted areas of improvement for the team.
“We need to focus on staying consistent from the first point to the last and cutting down on unforced errors,” she said. “If we keep the same fight we showed this weekend and clean up our execution, we can compete with anyone in the conference.”
Next up for the Spartans is a duo of matches in Granville, Ohio on Saturday, Oct. 3. The first against Ohio Wesleyan at 2 p.m., and the second against Denison University at 4 p.m.