The William Smith College volleyball team split action at the Carnegie Mellon Tri-Match this afternoon, falling to the host Tartan’s in a thrilling five-set match, followed by a 3-0 sweep of Randolph-Macon. The Herons close out the regular season with a 14-9 overall record (6-2 Liberty League), while the Tartans move to 18-7. The Yellow jackets fell twice this afternoon and move to 15-7 overall.
Sophomore Malya Sayre led the Herons through two matches, recording two double-doubles for her sixth and seventh of the season. Sayre compiled 37 kills, 25 digs, six service aces and two assists through the two matches. Her 21-kill performance against Carnegie Mellon was the seventh time this season that she has recorded 20+ kills.
Junior setter Elaina Wamhoff recorded 69 assists, nine digs, three kills and two aces on the afternoon. She recorded 30+ assists in both matches this afternoon and now has recorded 30+ assists 12 times this season. Wamhoff averages 8.93 assists per set.
MATCH MOMENTS:
Match 1 (Carnegie Mellon):
- William Smith and Carnegie Mellon proved early on in set one that the match would be a battle. Both sides put down 13 kills as a team in the opening set as the Herons finished on top 25-22.
- The Tartans produced its best offensive showing in the second set, putting down 13 kills for the second straight set, hitting .400 as a team. The hosts held William Smith to one kill and seven errors to grab a dominating 25-9 win in the second.
- The Herons bounced back in the third with 15 kills as a team, hitting .244. Sayre led William Smith with six kills in the third set to grab a 25-20 win for a 2-1 lead.
- In a must-win set for Carnegie Mellon, both teams played efficient offenses. The Tartans put down 14 kills, hitting .324 as a team to grab a 28-26 win to force a fifth set despite being down 20-16 late in the set.
- Carnegie Mellon continued its late momentum in set four into the final set, going on a 3-0 run to open the fifth. The Herons tried to fight their way back into the match but fell just short as the Tartans closed out set five on top, 15-8.
Match stats:
- Sayre led the Herons with 21 kills (.123), while sophomore Marin Montagnechipped in 12 (.170). Sophomore Jaylynn McCarthy (-.040) and first-year Lindsay Umlauf added six kills each.
- Wamhoff recorded 35 assists, seven digs, and one kill in the five-set thriller.
- William Smith recorded 71 digs as a team and had four players in double digits. First-year Maysie Malinaric led the team with 16, followed by Montagne with 15 for her third double-double of the season. Sayre chipped in 13, while McCarthy added 12.
Match 2 (Randolph-Macon):
- The Herons bounced back in their second action of the day and opened up set one with 11 kills, hitting .250 as a team. Sayre led William Smith with six kills to help the Herons to a 25-21 win in set one.
- William Smith continued to get better as the match went on and recorded 14 kills as a team in set two, hitting .303. The Yellow jackets stayed alive through set two and put down 15 kills as a team with six hitting errors. The Herons pulled through in the end and won set two 25-23.
- William Smith stepped up the pressure both offensively and defensively in the final set. The Herons put down 15 kills as a unit and allowed Randolph-Macon to only seven. William Smith completed the nonconference sweep with a 25-19 win in set three.
Match stats:
- Sayre continued to lead the Herons in their second match with 16 kills (.278). McCarthy (.300) and Montagne (.300) added eight each. Umlauf chipped in five, hitting an impressive .667.
- Wamhoff recorded 34 assists, two service aces, two digs and two kills (.100) in the sweep.
- Malinaric posted a team-leading 14 digs, while Sayre chipped in 12. McCarthy and Montagne added seven each.
- McCarthy and sophomore Hope Von Dohlen led the Herons with three block assists each in the win.
COACHES CORNER:
“Today was the best and most consistent volleyball we have played all year,” Head Coach Derryk Williams said. “We went toe-to-toe with a perennial top 25 team in CMU and had an amazing response with a convincing win against Randolph-Macon. I am really proud of how we played, how certain people stepped up, and getting a win when a lot was on the line! I’m very excited to see our continued growth as we head into the conference tournament.”
UP NEXT:
William Smith will be back in action Wednesday, Nov 1, when it heads to Buffalo, New York, to take on D’Youville University in an exhibition match. First serve between the Herons and the Saints is set for 7 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].