Wildcats Take Blazers 3-1 in Conference Women’s Volleyball Action

HOLYOKE, Mass.- The Wildcats were led by a pair of freshman middle hitters Elizabeth Haylette (Terryville, Conn.) and Arriadne Sykes (Hartford, Conn.) who combined for 28 kills en route to a 3-1 victory over local New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) rivals the Blazers of Elms College. Haylette led all players with 15 kills and Sykes finished with a sizzling .393 attack percentage tonight at the Bartley Center.  Bay Path easily took the first game 25-15, while Elms came back to claim game two 25-21. The two teams battled in the third game with the Wildcats prevailing. Bay Path did not look back controlling the final game 25-16.

The Blazers were led by sophomore middle hitter JC Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) tallying 12 kills, 12 digs and six service aces. Teammate and seniors outside hitter Christina Martin (Chicopee, Mass.) wasn't far behind with 11 kills and her team high 21 digs.

Bay Path controlled the first game with the final surge starting when freshman defensive specialist Mikala Smith (Esperance, N.Y.) served five straight points. Bay Path took advantage of some Blazers errors and notched the game point on a senior setter Erika Murphy (Torrington, Conn.) ball handling errors. Both teams suffered through many handling errors on the night.

Elms came back and won the second with the score being knotted eight times including the final tie at 20-20. The Blazers took the lead 21-20 after an attack error by Haylette.  Freshman outside hitter Stephanie Synott (Torrington, Conn.) suffered another double touch call to give Elms the two point advantage. Haylette again would hit into an error.  Pickett would add another Elms error for a 23-21 score. Sophomore middle hitter Christine Searles (Tolland, Mass.) would dish out a much needed kill for the Blazers giving them the match-point advantage.  Senior Wildcat setter Ashley Provost (Ludlow, Mass.) would convert a well played dump for a kills. Pickett would finish to game with a kill to tie the match 1-1.

Again, both teams would battle in the third set with the score being tied nine times including the final knot at 21-21 when Haylette nailed a much needed kill.  Freshman outside hitter Katelynn Hannan (Troy, N.Y.) served the final five points for the Wildcats. Haylette would tally three amazing kills including match-point.

The Wildcats would control most of the final set.  Freshman outside hitter Gladys Reed (Hampden, Conn.) added a much needed boost in the final set with four powerful kills. Sophomore Libero Kacie Bayreuther (East Lyme, Conn.) had a match and season high 31 digs for the Wildcats. Two other cats would register double figures in digs including Smith with 14 and Hannan with ten.

Elms would be led by Martin defensively with 21 digs, while sophomore Libero Caitlyn Larvey (Greenfield, Mass.) would add 19 digs. Freshman outside hitter Shannon Bolton (Shelton, Conn.) had 15 digs  and Pickett finished with 12 for the match. Provost would put up 34 assists.

Bay Path is now 8-10 overall and 2-4  in the conference, while Elms falls to 3-16  on the season  and 1-4.