CAMBRIDGE, MA - First-place Lesley University earned a sixth straight win, topping Newbury 3-1 (25-13, 22-25, 25-20, 25-12) Wednesday night in New England Collegiate Conference women's volleyball action at the Nicholas Athletic Center.
Reigning NECC Player of the Week Amanda McCracken (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) continued her dominance at the net, leading all players with 20 kills and three solo blocks while ensuring the match never saw a fifth set. With nine of her own, she was one of four Lynx with nine or more digs, as Caitlyn Vandenburgh (Swansea, MA/Joseph Case) led Lesley with 15. Kaitlyn Miller, meanwhile, tossed up a match-high 43 assists.
"Caitlyn Vandenburgh was phenomenal on defense," said first-year head coach TJ Hajjar, "and Kate Miller ran a great offense."
Newbury's (7-13, 1-3 NECC) Amy Chen (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford) led all players with 25 digs, while Kerri McAuley (Middleboro, MA/Sacred Heart) posted a team-best 10 kills on a sizzling .421 hitting percentage.
The Nighthawks scored the first four points of the night, but the opening set quickly took a turn for the worst for the visitors, as Lesley (13-7, 3-0 NECC) responded by scoring 22 of the next 25 points to take a 22-7 lead. McCracken threw down five kills in the run, as Lesley cruised in the opener.
Chris Taylor's Nighthawks responded in the middle of the second set, posting a pivotal 8-0 run to open a 12-7 lead. McAuley, Stephanie Williams (Medford, MA/Medford) and Tricia Corriveau (Coventry, RI/Coventry) came up with three kills a piece in the set, as Newbury evened the match 1-1.
The match hung in the balance into the middle of Game 3, which saw the teams tied 11-11. With Lesley leading 20-18, two kills from Lynx sophomore Megan Ortwein (Shanghai, China/American School) and two Newbury errors proved pivotal in a 25-21 Lesley victory.
With a 2-1 match advantage, McCracken and the Lynx showed but little interest in entertaining a fifth set. After Newbury took a 4-2 lead, Lesley countered with an 18-3 run that featured four McCracken kills and five from senior Meaghan Chadwick (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford), racing away with a 25-12 triumph.
Chadwick's commanding play continued, with 10 kills in 23 attempts (.304) and 13 digs. Ortwein added nine kills and 11 digs, as the Lynx won the eighth time in nine matches, improving to 5-1 at home.
The next time Hajjar's club returns to Cambridge, Lesley will honor Chadwick, its lone senior, on Senior Day on Saturday, October 30. In the mean time, the Lynx travel to Daniel Webster for a NECC tri-match this Saturday, October 23, when Newbury hosts its own tri-match.