Vassar Women’s Volleyball Sweeps Bard

By Steven Merritt

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Vassar College Women’s Volleyball picked its second Liberty League win on Wednesday night as the Brewers swept Bard 25-17, 25-10, 25-15. Sophomore Morgan Miller paced the Brewers with nine kills as Vassar improved to 2-11 and 2-3 in Liberty League play.

After the Raptors took an early 5-2 lead in the first set, Vassar scored the next seven points as junior Maya Levine picked up two service aces. Bard cut the lead to 18-13 after a kill from Emily Hall Smith but the Brewers scored the four straight as Miller picked up three kills and Levine tallied another ace. The Brewers earned the first set 25-17 victory off a kill from sophomore Julia Hale.

Following a 5-5 beginning to the second set, Vassar took control of the set and tallied 12 of the next 14 points to earn a 17-7 advantage. Miller picked up two service aces and a kill during the run while sophomore Hailey Hayes picked up a kill and a service ace of her own.

Hale buried two kills during the run while freshman Molly Delahunty added a winner. The Brewers tallied a second set 25-10 victory on a service ace from senior Kaitlin Birnbaum.

Vassar raced out to an early 6-0 advantage in the third set as Birnbaum picked up two service aces and a kill in the first six points. The Raptors came back and tied the set up at 15 apiece before the Brewers responded with 10 consecutive points to win the final set.

Miller buried two winners in the run while Hale added two blocks and Levine picked up another ace on the evening.

Miller finished her strong night with nine kills, two aces, two blocks and 11 digs for Vassar.

Hayes tallied eight kills, eight digs and two blocks while Delahunty added five kills. Freshman Melia Voss handed out 26 assists for the Brewers while lifting seven digs and adding two aces. Levine completed her strong night from the service line with five aces and lifted a game-high 14 digs.

Hall Smith finished with a team-high five kills for Bard as Ryan Lum added five kills and 10 digs. Adi David had nine assists for the Raptors and added a team-high 11 digs while Annie Couey had two aces.