This past weekend, the Case Western Reserve University volleyball team hosted four universities at the CWRU Quad, a two-day event where the teams played each other in tournament style. The Spartans came away with three wins, defeating Averett University, Allegheny College and Defiance College all 3-0.
The event kicked off on Friday, Sept. 8 as the Spartans played Averett. CWRU went on a 10-0 run in the opening set and maintained a strong lead for the rest of it. Though Averett cut the lead to 17-12, the Spartans eventually finished it off 25-20 from a block by second-year middle blocker Amanda Ngo and third-year outside hitter Rea Marfatia.
In the second set, Averett took a quick 3-1 advantage, hoping for a different outcome than the first set. However, the Spartans came roaring back, scoring 10 of the next 12 points to seize an 11-5 lead. Averett didn’t back down, responding with a 9-1 run for a two-point lead. After going on a 6-1 run, the Spartans finished off the set 25-20 with a service ace from fourth-year defensive specialist Alyssa Blessinger and kills from fourth-year middle blocker Jennifer Ngo, third-year setter/right side hitter Carly Scott and fourth-year setter Ansley Yamaato.
The final set was the most competitive, with four lead changes and seven ties. Toward the end of the set, Averett stretched their lead to 20-16. Amanda Ngo countered with a kill, but Averett took three more points, coming within one of forcing a fourth set. First-year outside hitter Emily Goodpaster made a kill and a service ace, keeping the set alive. A kill from Marfatia and then a forced attacking error allowed CWRU to win set 26-24 to finish the game.
Jennifer Ngo led the team with 10 kills and 3 block assists while Marfatia recorded a team-high 14 digs and 8 kills. Amanda Ngo added 7 kills, 6 block assists and 9 digs, Scott had 16 assists and Yamaato added 15 assists.
On Saturday, CWRU opened their first match of two for the day with an 8-8 tie in the opening set against Allegheny. The Spartans slowly pushed their lead to 6 points, finishing the set off a kill from Jennifer Ngo for the 25-21 win.
Allegheny owned most of the second set and took a 19-16 lead. Things were looking difficult for CWRU, but the team surged back with six straight points, taking a 22-19 lead. Jennifer Ngo again clinched the set with a kill to win it 25-23.
CWRU never trailed in the third set, taking their biggest lead of the set 19-13. Allegheny tried to respond and cut their deficit to three, but CWRU finished off the set 25-19 to win the game.
Jennifer Ngo recorded a team-high 15 kills to go with 3 blocks and 2 digs. Second-year outside hitter Kalli Wall added 9 kills and 4 blocks while Blessinger contributed a team-high 13 digs with 3 service aces.
The final game against Defiance was a relative breeze, with 18 players on the roster seeing the court and 10 different players recording at least one kill.
CWRU took control of the first set quickly with a 10-3 lead, eventually closing the set 25-13. After an initial mishap in the second set to go down 1-0, CWRU stretched their lead to 11-2, with a kill from second-year middle blocker Kiya Levy to claim the set 25-14. Defiance kept up a little more in the third set, tying the score 4-4, before the Spartans went on a crazy spree to take a set-high 12-point lead 20-8, eventually winning it 25-14.
Goodpaster and third-year right side hitter Erin Murphy led the team with 8 kills each. Scott recorded a team-high 21 assists while Marfatia added 8 digs.
The Spartans will compete at the 44th Annual ONU Invitational, facing Ohio Northern University on Sept. 15, Calvin University on Sept. 16, and Albion College on Sept. 16.
