PLYMOUTH – The Plymouth State University women’s volleyball team sent Western Connecticut State University home with heavy hearts in their three game sweep on Saturday at the Foley Gymnasium.
The Panthers entered Saturday’s games hoping to improve their 0-2 Little East Conference record while Western Connecticut State University entered the day with a 1-1 LEC standing.
Within the first few minutes of game one, the Panthers showed their determination, scoring two points. Western Connecticut quickly attempted to catch up with no success when PSU sophomore Sarah Spears made several quick dives.
Western Connecticut made up two points with a quick spike and a lucky out-of-court ball, bringing the score to 7-2.
PSU Panther, sophomore Michaela Del Rosso threw herself to the floor without hesitation to keep Western Connecticut from adding to their score. Freshman Eliza Badeau followed Del Rosso’s lead by spiking for the Panthers’ 9th point.
The Panthers continued to raise the bar with their quick teamwork. Spears quickly got the ball to freshman Brianna Kleckner who set up for junior Kaitlyn Collins to send the ball past Western Connecticut for a point, bringing the score to 9-2.
Western Connecticut was able to catch up to the Panthers, scoring five more points to bring the score to 9-7. On the Panthers’ serve, freshman Kathy Frankowski made a quick dig, followed up by sophomore Regan Bowlen’s spiked ball, passing Western Connecticut with the scoreboard reading 11-7.
PSU kept a strong lead over Western Connecticut for the rest of the match, with a final score of 30-17.
In the second match, it seemed that the tables were turning in Western Connecticut’s favor when they scored a quick two points. Sophomore Michaela Del Rosso spiked and scored the Panthers’ first point of the game.
Freshman Kathy Frankowski helped the Panthers tie with Western Connecticut with a score of 2-2.
The match continued with aggressive plays from both teams, the score often tied. Spears dived for an impressive one-handed save and Willoughby made a quick dash off the court to keep the ball in play.
Plymouth State finished the match with a narrow two-point lead of 30-28.
With a two-game lead, the Panthers entered the third match confident and prepared to keep up their aggressive game play as Kleckner made the first serve.
The Panthers quickly gained another two-point lead over Western Connecticut who gained one point after the Panthers lost control of the ball.
Plymouth State proved to be too much for Western Connecticut as the girls fumbled over one another trying to keep the Panthers from scoring. Western Connecticut continued to cave to the Panthers’ pressure as the match went on, always a few points behind.
By the end of the match, Western Connecticut continued to scramble for as many points as they could salvage, but came up short with a final score of 30-23.
The three game win left Plymouth State University with a 2-2 record in the Little East Conference and a record of 7-3 overall. Western Connecticut left with a 2-2 record in the LEC and an overall record of 4-6.
The Panthers will be participating in the Johnson & Wales Tournament on Friday, September 26 at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 30 at 10:00 a.m.