Women's Volleyball Battles Back for Third Straight Win

HOBOKEN, N.J.. – Sophomore Helen Barthe (Blythewood, S.C.) put down 15 kills and recorded 15 digs while senior Viviann Goulet added 11 kills and senior Riley Waggoner (Simi Valley, Calif.) had eight kills and six blocks as the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team rallied to defeat Montclair State, 3-1, in the first match of the Castle Point Challenge.

RECORDS:

• Montclair State (4-4)
• Wentworth (5-3)

WENTWORTH STAT LEADERS:

• Kills – Helen Barthe, 15; Viviann Goulet, 11; Ema Thompson, 9; Riley Waggoner, 8
• Assists – Lexi Zabloudil, 29; Ashley Cao, 13
• Aces – Lexi Zabloudil, 5; Ashley Cao, 2; Helen Barthe, 2; Megan Davies
• Digs – Peyton Tague, 15; Helen Barthe, 15; Ashley Cao, 13; Ema Thompson, 13
• Blocks – Riley Waggoner, 6; Riley Schoonmaker, 3; Viviann Goulet, 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Montclair State jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the opening set before Wentworth trimmed the lead to as few as two on four occasions, including when sophomore Ema Thompson (Lewiston, Idaho) put down a kill to make it 13-11. The Red Hawks scored the next five points and went ahead, 18-11, before the Leopards battled back to pull within three at 21-18 after a Barthe kill. Montclair scored the next three points before Barthe put down a kill to make it 24-19. However, the Red Hawks took the first set, 25-19.
• The Red Hawks appeared to be in control in the second set, jumping out to a 13-5 lead. However, the Black & Gold went on a 9-2 run and cut the lead to 15-14 on a Waggoner kill. Montclair pushed its lead to as many as five at 23-18. An attack error and an ace from sophomore Lexi Zabloudil (London, Ohio) made it 23-20, however, the Red Hawks pushed the Leopards to set point after an attack error. Goulet recorded back-to-back kills and Waggoner and Thompson teamed up for back-to-back blocks to tie the set at 24-all before Waggoner had her third kill of the set, making it 25-24 in favor of Wentworth. The Red Hawks tied the set at 25-all on a Wentworth attack error but gave the point back with an attack error of their own. Junior Megan Davies (Chandler, Ariz.) served an ace to end the set, 27-25.
• After Montclair State took a 4-3 lead early in the third set, Wentworth used a 6-1 run and took a 9-5 lead when sophomore Abby Maher (North Granby, Conn.) and freshman Riley Schoonmaker (Montgomery, N.Y.) teamed up for a block. The Red Hawks reclaimed the lead with an 8-0 run (13-9) but the Leopards responded with five of the next six points and tied the set at 14-all. Trailing 17-16, Wentworth scored the next four points as Barthe served an ace to take a 20-17 lead. However, Montclair scored the next three to tie the set at 20-all before Waggoner put down a kill to make it 21-20. A Red Hawk kill tied the at 21-all before Schoonmaker and Goulet teamed up for a block and sophomore Ashley Cao (Morrisville, N.C.) served an ace to give the Black & Gold a 23-21 lead. After Montclair tied the set at 23—all, Cao recorded a kill, giving Wentworth set point. The Red Hawks staved off set point and took a 25-24 lead before a kill from Maher tied the set at 25-all. A Goulet kill tied the set for the 16th and final time in the set at 28-all before Thompson put down a kill and Schoonmaker had a solo block, giving Wentworth a 2-1 lead with a 30-28 win.
• As was the case in the first three sets, Montclair took a lead to open the fourth set, leading by as many as six at 9-3. A block by Waggoner and Barthe capped off a 11-5 run and brought Wentworth to within one at 14-13. Trailing 16-13, Wentworth scored the next five points, taking an 18-16 lead on Zabloudil's third consecutive ace. After the Red Hawks tied the set at 18-all, Barthe and Thompson had kills and Barthe served an ace, giving Wentworth a 21-18 lead. Montclair pulled within one by scoring the next two points, however, Wentworth closed out the match with a 25-21 win.

THE SERIES:

• Today was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth has a pair of matches tomorrow, as the Leopards square off against Macalester at 10:00 a.m. and William Paterson at 6:00 p.m.

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