Volleyball Edges Mount Ida in Five Sets, Falls to Southern Maine 3-0

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College volleyball team posted a 3-2 victory over  Mount Ida and suffered a 3-0 setback to Southern Maine Saturday afternoon at the Lahue Physical Education Center.

The Lions move to 2-15 on the year while the Mustangs drop to 5-14 and the Huskies improve to 13-6 overall.

Kortney Jenkins (Bunker Hill, W.Va.) led the way for Eastern Nazarene with 25 kills, 24 digs and 10 aces on the afternoon. Joanna Joseph (Brockton, Mass.) finished with 10 kills while Hannah Welsh (Derry, N.H.) added eight kills, nine assists and 16 digs in the two matches.

Kayla Dean (Lansdale, Pa.) posted 23 digs and Lauryl Berger (Laurel, Del.) registered 37 assists and 15 digs for the home team.

The Lions snapped their 11-match skid with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Mount Ida in the matinee.

Eastern Nazarene claimed the first set 25-21 before the Mustangs leveled the match at 1-1 with a 25-14 decision in the second.  The guests took a 2-1 advantage after prevailing in the third frame 25-16.

The Lions battled back to even the match at 2-2 as they edged Mount Ida 26-24 in the fourth. The hosts closed out the victory with a 15-11 win in the deciding fifth set.

In the nightcap, Eastern Nazarene dropped the first set to Southern Maine 25-18. The Huskies captured the second frame 25-15 before closing out the win with a 25-17 decision in the third.

Southern Maine cruised by Mount Ida in the middle match of the day. The Huskies prevailed 25-15, 25-21 and 25-12.

Mount Ida was led by Taylor Davis with 21 kills and 16 digs on the afternoon. Nicole Peixoto dished out 68 assists and Kelcey Koolman finished with 27 digs.

Southern Maine was led by rookie Jessica Williamson with 33 kills and 26 digs. Megan Nilson tallied 53 assists while Demi Ruder racked up 24 digs.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene remains at home as it hosts Commonwealth Coast Conference foe Roger Williams October 9.