Wentworth Institute of Technology Athletics

Women's Volleyball Battles Eastern Nazarene, Grabs Sixth-Straight Win

Kate McLane (14 kills) and Emma Sanders (13) pace Leopards to sweep over Lions, handing Eastern Nazarene second loss of season

Photo by Denis Minevich '23
Photo by Denis Minevich '23
Box Score
October 12, 2023

QUINCY, Mass. – A spread attack on offense guided the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team (14-5) to their sixth-straight win as the Leopards downed the Lions of Eastern Nazarene (16-2) in straight sets Thursday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • Kills by freshmen Kate McLane (Columbus, Ohio) and Emma Sanders (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) gave Wentworth an initial 3-1 lead in the opening set before a kill later by junior Ema Thompson (Lewiston, Idaho) knotted the score at five-all. Behind 10-8, a kill by Sanders followed by a service ace from sophomore Amanda Zweifler (Jersey City, N.J.) again tied the score, this time at 10 points apiece. Behind 13-12, a kill by sophomore Riley Schoonmaker (Montgomery, N.Y.) tied the score before the Leopards set out to a 16-13 lead. Behind 21-18, two kills apiece by Thompson and Sanders guided Wentworth to a rally, earning the Black & Gold a tight 25-23 set win.
  • After beginning the second set tied at three apiece, back-to-back kills by Sanders and Thompson and back-to-back service aces by Zweifler gave Wentworth a 7-3 advantage. Wentworth pushed the lead to 10-4 on a Schoonmaker kill before four kills by McLane helped continue the lead to a 16-9 score. Kills by Sanders gave the Leopards respective 18-15 and 20-17 leads before a kill by McLane kept Wentworth in front, 23-22. A service ace by freshman Olivia Vaughn (Bolingbrook, Ill.) helped the Leopards snag another 25-23 set win, taking a 2-0 match lead.
  • The two teams traded points to start the third set before the Lions took a 10-7 advantage. A pair of kills, one apiece for Thompson and Schoonmaker, later completed a comeback, giving the Leopards a 14-13 edge. Behind 18-16, kills by McLane and Sanders and a service ace by the former regained the Leopards' one-point lead. Errors plagued the Lions towards the end of the set with kills by Sanders and McLane giving the Leopards their third 25-23 set win of the night.

SERIES NOTES:

  • The Leopards have taken five of the last six meetings between the two teams.

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