NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Washington and Lee University picked up a pair of wins on Saturday as they defeated Salisbury University in straight sets before taking down Christopher Newport University in four sets.
HOW IT HAPPENED vs SALISBURY (W&L 3-0 | 25-13, 25-19, 25-9)
- W&L (21-3) opened the first set with a 5-2 run, highlighted by a kill from Grace Mitchener, a service ace from Claire Hargett and three errors by the Sea Gulls (14-9). Following a kill from Salisbury's Sophia Tapia, the Generals used another 5-1 run to take a six-point lead. Mitchener added three more kills during the run, while Cara Hamil and Emma Mulvaney each chipped in one. Both teams traded points throughout the middle of the set, with the Generals maintaining a four-point advantage following three unanswered points from the Sea Gulls. The Blue and White extended their lead to 22-12 with a 7-1 run, highlighted by a kill from Hamil, a block from Mitchener and Hamil, and a service ace from Addison Evans. A kill from Tapia halted the run before a solo block from Stephanie Lynch and a kill from Mulvaney fueled a final 3-0 run to secure a 25-13 opening-set victory for W&L.
- Similar to the first set, the Generals opened the second frame with a 6-2 run to take an early lead. The scoring stretch featured three kills from Mitchener, while Mulvaney and Ava Gaines each added one. Following more back-and-forth action, W&L extended its lead to nine with another 6-1 run, highlighted by three kills and a service ace from Mulvaney and two kills from Hargett. Salisbury responded with a 9-3 run of its own to cut into the Generals' advantage before two attacking errors and a service ace from Mitchener gave W&L a 22-16 lead. The Sea Gulls cut the deficit to three with three unanswered points, but the Blue and White responded by scoring the final three points of the set. Back-to-back Salisbury errors and a kill from Hargett secured a 25-19 second-set victory for the Generals.
- After Kiley McTaggart opened the third set with a kill, the Generals rattled off an 18-1 run to take a commanding lead. Mitchener recorded three kills and a solo block during the scoring stretch, while Mulvaney added three service aces and Hargett and Gaines each contributed kills. Both teams followed with 4-1 runs, with the Blue and White's scoring stretch extending their lead to 23-7. The run featured three errors from the Sea Gulls and a kill from Mulvaney. Hargett and Mulvaney each recorded a kill for the Generals' final two points to secure a 25-9 third-set victory and complete the sweep.
HOW IT HAPPENED vs CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT (W&L 3-1 | 20-25, 26-24, 27-25, 25-17)
- The Captains (19-8) opened the first set with a 3-1 run before back-to-back CNU errors tied the score at three. A kill from Grace Mitchener and a service ace from Claire Hargett highlighted a 3-1 run for the Generals to put them ahead by two. Both teams traded 5-1 scoring stretches, with the Generals' run giving them a 12-11 lead thanks to two kills apiece from Stephanie Lynch and Emma Mulvaney. Both squads traded points until the Captains used an 8-1 run to take a 23-17 lead. The Generals cut the deficit to three with kills from Cara Hamil and Mulvaney, along with a solo block from Lynch, but back-to-back kills from the Captains secured a 25-20 opening-set victory.
- Kills from Mulvaney and Ava Gaines, along with a CNU error, highlighted a 3-1 run for the Generals to give them an early lead in the second set. The Captains responded with a 4-1 run of their own to take a one-point advantage. Both teams traded points, with neither squad gaining much momentum until CNU rattled off four unanswered points to take a 10-7 lead. Back-to-back solo blocks from Hargett and Mulvaney sparked a 6-1 run that put W&L ahead, 13-11. Mitchener added a block and a kill, while Mulvaney registered a kill and service ace during the scoring stretch. The Generals and Captains exchanged leads throughout the middle of the set, with neither team gaining more than a one-point advantage. A CNU service error and an ace from Mitchener gave the Generals a 23-22 lead before three kills from Mulvaney highlighted a final 3-1 run to secure a 26-24 second-set victory for W&L.
- The Captains jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the third set behind three kills and a block. The Blue and White took their first lead of the frame with four unanswered points, highlighted by a kill and service ace from Hargett and a block from Gaines and Mitchener. CNU responded with a 4-0 run of its own to regain the lead before both teams traded points, with the Captains maintaining their advantage. CNU extended its lead to 17-13 following a 3-1 run before W&L responded with a 5-1 scoring stretch to tie the set at 18. Mitchener recorded a pair of kills, while Hamil added a kill and solo block during the run. Both teams traded points until two kills from Gaines fueled a 3-1 run for the Blue and White to give them a 23-22 lead. The Captains answered with a 3-1 run to take a 25-24 advantage before a kill and service ace from Mitchener and a kill from Hamil secured a 27-25 third-set victory for W&L.
- Kills from Mulvaney and Mitchener, along with a CNU attacking error, gave W&L an early 3-1 lead in the fourth set before a 4-1 run from the Captains put them ahead by one. Both squads traded 3-1 runs to keep it a one-point contest before the Generals erupted for a 6-1 scoring stretch to take a 13-9 lead. The run featured three kills from Mulvaney, one from Hargett and a service ace from Sienna Nichoson. Following three unanswered points from CNU, the Generals extended their lead to six with a 6-1 run that featured two kills from Mitchener, one from Gaines and solo blocks from Mitchener and Lynch. The Captains cut the deficit to three with three consecutive points before the Generals closed the match on a 6-1 run to secure the four-set victory. The final scoring stretch featured kills from Hargett, Mitchener and Lynch, a service ace from Mitchener and a solo block from Lynch.
W&L GAME NOTES
- The Blue and White extended their winning streak to six matches with two victories on Saturday afternoon, improving to 21-3 overall. The Generals' four-set victory over Christopher Newport avenged a four-set loss on Oct. 17, which marked their most recent defeat before the winning streak began.
- Across the two matches, W&L recorded 99 kills on 335 attempts with 32 errors for a .220 hitting percentage. The Generals registered 42 kills on 128 attempts for a .227 hitting percentage in the win over Salisbury before posting 57 kills on 207 attempts with a .184 hitting percentage against CNU.
- The Blue and White combined for 94 assists, 16 service aces, 173 digs and 15 blocks across their two victories.
- Grace Mitchener led the offensive effort with 30 kills on 107 attempts and nine errors for a .196 hitting percentage. Emma Mulvaney added 24 kills with a .270 hitting percentage. Sienna Nichoson dished out a team-high 48 assists across the two matches, while Addison Evans added 28. Mulvaney led the Generals with six service aces, while Mitchener recorded four, Claire Hargett added three and Nichoson chipped in two.
- Vivi Vasquez led the defensive effort with 43 digs, averaging 6.14 per set, while Mitchener added 40. Mitchener also recorded a team-high five blocks, including three solo stops, while Stephanie Lynch registered four solo blocks.
UP NEXT
- The Generals wrap up the regular season next weekend as they travel to Atlanta, Ga. for the Emory National Invitational. The Blue and White will take on No. 8 Berry College on Friday, Nov. 6 at 3:30 p.m. before taking on No. 2 Centre at 2 p.m. and No. 21 Emory at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
