Wildcats win 4th straight

Bay Path defeats Green Mountain College 3-1 in Volleyball

POULTNEY, Vt. – Despite playing some of their best volleyball of the year to date, the Green Mountain College women's volleyball team fell to the visiting Bay Path College Wildcats, 3-1 in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon at the Eagle Dome.

Bay Path (4-1) earned a pair of 25-19 victories to open the match and was on its way to a third set victory at 21-17 until the Eagles beared down to extend the match to the deciding fourth set.

 With the visitors holding a 21-17 edge in the third set, Green Mountain (0-6) received four service aces from Madison Gillen (Los Gatos, Calif.) and kills by Aixa Lujan (Tucson, Ariz.) and Torie Cowell(Rochester, N.Y.) to stay alive and extend the match to the fourth set.

The final set was a back and forth affair throughout with the Eagles managing to hold the largest lead of the set at 12-8 following a kill by Hayley Loisel (Tolland, Conn.). In fact, the hosts took the lead at 23-21 following an attack error by the Wildcats. An Elizabeth Haylette kill followed by two service aces for Lexi Cears clinched the 3-1 match victory for the visitors.

The Wildcats outhit the Eagles edging them as a team by just under 20 percentage points. A key advantage held by the visitors was clicking on 23 service aces to just 16 for GMC, while also committing less service reception errors.

Bay Path was led offensively by Haylette who collected a game-high 14 kills followed by teammate Lauren Vallee who also notched double figures with 10. Cears and Taylor Heinbokel were stout defensively registering 13 and nine digs, respectively. Cears was also a thorn in the Eagles' side from the service line racking up eight aces while guiding the offense with 32 assists.

GMC received a breakout performance from Lujan who led the team with 10 kills against just two attack errors. Cowell provided a steady diet of attacks from the middle and benefitted from nine kills, while Loisel notched seven of her own. Loisel also led the defensive effort with nine digs and was followed by teammate Gillen who had eight in addition to her six service aces.  Megan Roy (Franklin, Mass.) steered the offense with 22 assists while also adding four service aces and six digs.

Green Mountain will set its sights on Castleton in its next non-conference match scheduled forWednesday at 7 p.m. at the Eagle Dome. Bay Path will prepare for a pair of home contests next Saturday with Westfield visiting for a 10 a.m. match and Castleton scheduled for a 2 p.m. contest.

Bay Path hosts Westfield State and Castleton State on September 19in a tri-match beginning at 10 am. 

Story courtesy of Green Mountain College Sports Information