Wildcats Split for the Day in Women’s Volleyball Action

Bay Path 3 Green Mountain 0 (25-22, 25-19, 28-26)

CASTLETON, Vt.- Wildcats Junior middle hitter Kate Bartels (Dalton, Mass.) had eight kills and six digs in conjunction with sophomore outside hitter Kacie Bayreuther (East Lyme, Conn.) six kills and a team-high 12 digs helped guide the Bay Path women's volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Green Mountain College in a Saturday afternoon tilt as part of a tri-match at Castleton State College.

The attack advantage in the first set actually belonged to the Eagles as GMC edged the Wildcats in kills 15-12.  Bay Path's service game, however, gave the Eagles fits as the Wildcats served several aces to overcome the disadvantage on the attack front, taking the first set 25-22.

Bay Path showed more consistency in the second set and forced Green Mountain into having to come up with several tough defensive plays.  Unfortunately, the Wildcats were too strong in the second set beating the Eagles 25-19 to take a 2-0 set lead.

The third set was a closely contested battle which saw the Wildcats jump out to an early lead only to see the Eagles storm back to close the early deficit.  The teams traded leads several times late in the game and the Eagles at one point were serving for the victory.  The Wildcats dug in deep on defense and were able to capitalize in transition to take the third set 28-26 and the match win.

In addition to the performances by Bartels and Bayreuther, Bay Path also received six kills and 11 digs from freshman defensive specialist Katelynn Hannan (Troy, N.Y.).

Leading Green Mountain on the afternoon was junior outside hitter Kara Egan (Breezy Point, N.Y.) who recorded match-highs in both kills (15) and digs (13).  Sophomore middle blocker Madison Wage (Cheshire, Conn.) contributed eight kills, seven digs and three blocks in defeat for the Eagles. 

The Eagles will regroup as they prepare for a match against Norwich University on Thursday, September 13 at the Eagle Dome with start time scheduled for 7:00 p.m.  Bay Path will also play next play Thursday when the team travels to Albertus Magnus for a 7:00 p.m. match.

Castleton 3 Bay Path 1 (25-27, 25-19, 21-25, 12-25)

Castleton hit just .216 but recorded season-highs of 90 digs and 11 total blocks, repeatedly frustrating the Wildcat offense. Bay Path recorded nearly 40 more attacks but the defense held strong and allowed the visitors just one set where they hit over .160 and forced them to hit .046 for the match.  

Five different players recorded double figure digs, led by senior Nicole Valastro (So. Glens Falls, N.Y.) with 20. Freshmen Patrice Herrington (Cambridge, N.Y.) added 18 and Bridget McCarthy (Nashua, N.H.) had 15, while classmates Amanda Chambers (Lake George, N.Y.) and Shelby Smyth (Chelmsford, Mass.) both had 11 digs. 

Bayreuther once again led the way for the Wildcats notching her season high .257 attack percentage. She had a double double with 12 kills and the match high 23 digs. Defensively, Bay Path out hustled the host Spartans with 90 digs to Castleton's 69 for the match.  Hannan had 15 digs and three service aces while senior setter Ashley Provost (Ludlow, Mass.) chipped in 10 digs and a match-high 35 digs.  Hannan also chipped in six kills. 

Offensively for the Wildcats, Bartels and freshman middle hitter Elizabeth Haylette (Terryville, Conn.) each tallied eight kills apiece.  Haylette also had a block solo.

McCarthy was all over the court for the Spartans, finishing one kill shy of a triple-double with her line of nine kills, 17 assists and 15 digs. Chambers and Smith also had double-doubles, with Chambers hitting .400 and tying for the team-lead with 12 kills, while Smith dished out a team-high 21 assists.