Halloween night inside the Spaulding Gymnasium saw KSC Volleyball secure a big-time win over Mount Holyoke College, with the final set score being 3-0. The Owls move to 13-12 overall, matching the Lyons’ record as both teams prepare for the postseason in the coming weeks.
Despite a striking start from Mount Holyoke’s offense, the opening set was extremely tight, with the Lyons outhitting the Owls led by right-side hitter Elle Rimando, who tallied 19 kills. However, a late push from Keene State, spearheaded by senior outside hitter Gigi Stake and junior outside hitter Colleen Fraser, got them the 25-22 win.
Momentum remained with the Owls in the second set. Keene State capitalized on Mount Holyoke’s 13 attack errors and won the set 25-14 while hitting .167 as a group. Junior setter Alexis Small led the offense with 12 assists and added a game-high five service aces to keep the Lyons at arm’s length.
The final set saw Mount Holyoke fight back into the game, but Keene State’s efficiency at the net, posting a .267 hitting percentage, sealed the deal with a 25-23 win.
Sophomore libero Delia Ryan anchored the defense with 15 digs, while first-year middle blocker Katie Taylor, Stake, and junior outside hitter Sarah Bartels each contributed with two blocks.
For the Lyons, libero Kyra Staples led the backcourt with 21 digs, while Sadie Duffrin had a monstrous 27 assists. Despite the sweep, Mount Holyoke’s resilience kept each set close in a hard-fought match between two evenly matched teams.
Following this win, the KSC volleyball team still remains in the top 6 for the LEC playoffs. The team will play at home on Friday, Nov. 7, in a rescheduled game against conference opponent Western Connecticut.
Jonathan Smyers can be contacted at
