Following the momentum of their record-breaking opening win streak, the Case Western Reserve University volleyball team dominated against Carnegie Mellon University and the No. 15-ranked University of Chicago in the final UAA round robin. The Spartans are currently 20-4 overall and finished second in the conference regular season with a 5-2 record.
The Spartans began Sunday’s matches against Carnegie Mellon, where they took the first set with 25-17. While the Tartans put up a fight and took the following two sets 25-23 and 25-14, the Spartans followed up with another win 29-27 to push them into the decisive fifth set. Their victory over Carnegie Mellon came from a kill by fourth-year right side and outside hitter Chloe Maciejewski.
Offensively, the final kill by Maciejewski contributed to her matching a career-high of 14 kills. Fourth-year outside hitter Rea Marfatia led with 16 kills and contributed 15 digs. Fourth-year setter and right outside hitter Carly Scott achieved an impressive triple-double with 12 kills, 24 assists and 15 digs. This was the Spartans’ first triple-double since the 2010 season. Other team leaders in the match included first-year defensive specialist Sophia Datto with 20 digs and first-year Avery Basinger with 31 assists.
Following an intense match against Carnegie Mellon, the Spartans faced off against No. 15-ranked UChicago. The Spartans took a three-set victory over the Maroons, marking a total of nine for the season.
The Spartans had a strong start to the first set with an early 6-2 lead, which they later extended to 12-5 after third-year middle blocker Amanda Ngo notched a kill. The Spartans continued with the momentum to win the first set 25-18.
The Maroons tried to make a comeback and had a dominating lead to begin the second set, as they took 12 of the first 15 points. However, their lead did not last long as third-year middle blocker Kiya Levy’s kill triggered a 10-0 run for the Spartans, placing them up 13-12. The Spartans eventually emerged victorious to take the second set 25-23 win.
The final set of the day for the Spartans began with the two teams trading small runs, with the Spartans eventually gaining a 14-10 lead off of a 5-0 run, triggered by another Levy kill. This set remained tense, though, and the 4-point lead was the biggest lead of the set. The Maroons put up a fight, as they tied the score five times before a service and attack errors gave CWRU its three-set victory.
The squad will be on the road this weekend, traveling to Grove City, Pennsylvania, to compete in a tri-match against Westminster College and Grove City College. The Spartans will return to Horsburgh Gymnasium for two more home contests before the quarterfinals of the UAA Championships, where they will face seventh-seeded Brandeis University.