Volleyball
On Oct. 12, the Case Western Reserve University volleyball team hosted the second University Athletic Association round robin, defeating both the University of Rochester and nationally ranked No. 10 Washington University in St. Louis. The Spartans concluded Homecoming Weekend with two victories, improving their conference record to 3-2.
The Spartans opened the weekend against Rochester, battling to a five-set victory. The Yellowjackets claimed the first set, but CWRU responded in the second, sealing the win with a kill from fourth-year co-captain Kalli Wall. The Spartans carried that momentum into the third set, commanding a 4-0 run led by second-year setter Avery Basinger to build a five-point lead and take the set.
The fourth set proved to be turbulent. After trailing 18-13, CWRU surged back with seven straight points behind the serving of second-year setter Elena Esquivel to regain the lead. Rochester, however, answered with four consecutive points to force a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, the Spartans left no doubt. They won seven of the first nine points and closed the match on a dominant 5-0 run to cinch the victory.
Following their win over Rochester, the Spartans faced a major test against No. 10-ranked WashU and rose to the occasion, winning the match in four sets. The Bears claimed the opening set after pulling ahead 20-16 on a string of three straight kills and closing with a 4-1 run. But from there, CWRU seized control.
In the second set, WashU jumped out to an early lead before fourth-year middle blocker Amanda Ngo delivered three consecutive kills to ignite a 5-0 Spartans run. Ngo later sealed the set with another kill, leading CWRU to a dominant 25-13 victory. The Spartans maintained their momentum in the third set, cruising to a 25-18 win.
The fourth set proved to be more tightly contested, with the Bears taking a brief 12-11 lead after falling behind early. But the Spartans responded with poise. Wall tied the score with a kill, third-year defensive specialist Sude Naz Item delivered a clutch service ace, and second-year right-side hitter Madeline Halter secured the upset with her ninth kill of the match.
The Spartans closed out the weekend with standout performances across the roster. Wall led the offense with 30 kills, followed by Ngo with 22 kills and nine blocks. Fourth-year middle blocker Kiya Levy anchored the defense at the net with 10 blocks. Item recorded a career-high five service aces against WashU, while Esquivel added seven aces and dished out 55 assists. On the backline, second-year defensive specialist Sophia Datoo tallied 41 digs and first-year defensive specialist Thea Beran contributed 26.
The two conference victories marked a pivotal turning point in the Spartans’ season. Continuing to build on that momentum, CWRU defeated crosstown rival John Carroll University in a five-set thriller, winning 3-2.
After a weekend of rest, the Spartans will return to UAA play on Oct. 26 in Chicago, where they are set to face conference opponents New York University and the University of Chicago in their third round robin of the year.
Women’s Soccer
After three weekends of UAA competition, the Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team holds a 1-1-1 conference record and stands at 11-1-2 overall.
The Spartans opened the stretch with a marquee matchup on Oct. 11 against reigning NCAA national champion Washington University in St. Louis during Homecoming Weekend. WashU applied pressure from kickoff and controlled much of the first half. The Bears broke through in the 20th minute, capitalizing on a rebound inside the box following a blocked shot, and doubled their lead in the 34th minute on a counterattack.
CWRU emerged from halftime revitalized, immediately pushing into the attacking third and earning a corner kick within the opening five minutes. The Spartans’ persistence paid off in the 50th minute when second-year midfielder Abby Welker scored off an assist from first-year forward Izzy Probst. Riding that momentum, Welker nearly netted the equalizer in the 67th minute, striking the crossbar. Despite a dominant second-half effort, the Spartans were unable to draw level and suffered their first loss of the season, 2-1.
Following their loss at home, the Spartans traveled to Chicago to face No. 5-ranked University of Chicago in a pivotal UAA matchup. The contest featured two evenly matched teams whose styles produced an intense, back-and-forth 90 minutes.
CWRU struck first when fourth-year co-captain Mackenzie Mueller sent a through ball to Welker, who had just entered the match four minutes earlier. Welker beat her defender and slipped a shot past the Maroons’ goalkeeper to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. The goal marked Welker’s fourth of the season and of her collegiate career.
The Maroons responded quickly, equalizing less than six minutes later with a header off a corner kick. The first half ended in a 1-1 deadlock.
The Spartans regained the lead early in the second half when Mueller connected with fourth-year forward Ceci Dapino, who finished a one-on-one opportunity with the UChicago keeper to put CWRU ahead 2-1. However, the advantage was short-lived, as the Maroons converted a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box to tie the match. Despite several late attempts from CWRU, the contest ended in a 2-2 draw.
The matchup marked the third in a grueling seven-game stretch against nationally ranked opponents, all within UAA play. The Spartans will travel next to Waltham, Massachusetts, and Newark, New Jersey, for a doubleheader weekend against Brandeis University and New York University.
Men’s Soccer
Like the women’s team, the CWRU men’s soccer team faced Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Chicago over the past two weekends, falling in both matches by identical 1-0 scores and dropping to 0-2-1 in UAA play.
The Spartans opened their match against WashU with intensity, generating early opportunities. Third-year forward Philip Vlastaris forced a save with a shot on goal, and third-year midfielder Ohta Kamiya followed with a threatening free kick that was also stopped by the Bears’ goalkeeper. WashU broke the stalemate in the 21st minute, capitalizing on a corner kick to take the lead.
Despite a competitive second half and a handful of chances for CWRU, the Spartans were unable to convert. The 1-0 defeat marked their first home loss of the season.
CWRU then traveled to Chicago to face the University of Chicago in a match marked by unusual circumstances, including two rain delays—the second lasting nearly two hours. Once play resumed, the teams completed the final seven minutes of the first half, went through a shortened halftime and proceeded directly into the full 45 minutes of the second period.
Fourth-year forward Phillip Washington generated two shots on goal in the first half, both saved by the Maroons’ goalkeeper, and the game remained scoreless at the break. UChicago broke the deadlock in the 54th minute and held onto the one-goal lead for the remainder of the match. Fourth-year goalkeeper and co-captain Bradley Winter recorded a season-high five saves in the effort.
The Spartans will look to bounce back as they head to Waltham, Massachusetts and Newark, New Jersey to face Brandeis University and New York University this weekend in a doubleheader series alongside the women’s team.