CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University saw their three-game winning streak come to an end tonight as Wheaton College swept past the Lynx 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-17) in non-conference women's volleyball action tonight at the Nicholas Athletics Center. The loss drops the Lynx to 6-11 on the season while the win bumps the Lyons to 10-12 overall.
Wheaton sophomores Cathryn MacGregor (North Andover, Mass.) and Claire Cansler (Newhall, Calif.) each buried 11 kills to lead all players while junior Allison Cox (Torrance, Calif.) added four for the visitors. Cansler hit a hearty .500 on the night on 18 attacks as she added a pair of digs and one block assist on the defensive end. Freshmen Becca Houghton (Emmaus, Pa.) and McKenna Milholland (Federal Way, Wash.) split the setting duties for the Lyons, dishing out 18 and 10, respectively.
As a team, Wheaton hit .258 from the floor and knocked down 16 service aces, led by freshman Sadie Stewart (Chesterfield, Va.) who finished with a match-high five.
Lesley junior Kaylee Deluga (Dennis, Mass.) paved the way for the Lynx attack with eight kills and nine digs while classmate Anni Abbruzzese (Croton on Hudson, N.Y.) added five kills and five digs. Senior Vera Bednar (Helmond, Netherlands) handed out nine assists while fellow fourth year Jess Reynolds (Londonderry, N.H.) and freshman Wing Li (Quincy, Mass.) each finished with six digs.
Lesley would pull ahead with an early 8-5 lead in the opening set, but Wheaton stormed back with a quick 5-0 burst anchored by three MacGregor kills to claim a 10-8 edge. The Lyons would ride that momentum to the end of the first as they outscored their hosts 15-7 to claim the set 25-15.
The Lyon offense would stay in high-gear as back-to-back kills from MacGregor and Cansler followed by a Lynx error would open up a 10-2 lead to start the second set. Trailing 25-10 later in the set, the Lynx would claw their back to cut the deficit to five with a pair of Li aces, but Wheaton would close out the game on a Houghton slam to take a 2-0 match lead.
The Lynx would fell behind in the third 15-8 before using a 4-1 streak to pull within four, but a Stewart kill and McKenna Milholland (Federal Way, Wash.) ace would give the momentum back to the Lyons who completed the sweep with a 25-17 third set win.
Lesley will return to New England Collegiate Conference action on Saturday and travel to Bay Path University for an 11:00a match. Wheaton will also return to play on Saturday and return to their home floor for a tri-match with Western New England and Western Connecticut State.