Mariners Narrowly Sail Past Wildcats 3-2

Kate Bartels Honored on Senior Night

HOLYOKE, Mass.- Honored senior outside hitter Kate Bartels (Dalton, Mass.) led all players in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) rivals the Mariners of Mitchell College with a stellar .327 attack percentage.  The Wildcats took the first game 25-14, while the Mariners fought through the second and third sets of extended play narrowly winning 30-28 and 29-27. Bay Path would once again bounce back taking the fourth game 25-22. Mitchell would win the match with a 15-9 final game.

Bartels went out in style playing amazingly in her final home match tallying a double double with 23 kills and 19 digs. She also added four service aces.

Leading the way for the Mariners was sophomore middle hitter Amanda Garcia (New Britain, Conn.) with 24 kills, nine digs, five block assists for a .206 attack percentage.  The only other Mariner swinging in the double figures was senior outside hitter Gloria Charles (New Haven, Conn.) finishing with 10 kills. Charles had nine digs and four block assists.

Junior Libero Kacie Bayreuther (East Lyme, Conn.) was a force to be reckoned with in the back line concluding the match with player high 26 digs.              

Freshman setter Aaliyah Gordon (Springfield, Mass.) finished with 32 assists and 10 digs.

Senior outside hitter Barbara Fontes (Stratford, Conn.) led her team with 14 digs.

The Wildcats are now 3-20 and 0-6 in conference play, while Mitchell advances to 7-11 and 1-4 in NECC play.