NEW LONDON, Conn.
In their first match in a week, the Bears got back in the win column on a 3-0 win over Clark (25-18, 25-14, 25-13). The win for CGA improves them to 9-3 (1-1 NEWMAC). Clark falls to 4-7 (0-3 NEWMAC) with the loss, they will next travel to cross-town rival WPI for a tri-match vs the Engineers and Mount St. Mary College of New York.
The Coast Guard win was a banner one for Head Coach
Mark Thomas, who notched his 100th career win as Head Coach of CGA. Thomas is just the second coach in program history to reach 100 wins.
The Bears jumped ahead early and were in control of the match for all three sets. In the first, they capitalized on Cougar errors and relied on hitters
Corey Lemmer (San Francisco, Cal.),
Abby Schweitzer (Emmaus, Pa.), and
Sam Ventimiglia (Key West, Fla.). Leading 20-12 in the first set, sophomore hitter and new addition to the team
Ainsley Hololob (Yaphank, N.Y.) saw her first collegiate volleyball action. Hololob wasted no time getting her name in the box score with a combined block along with
Corey Lemmer. Later in the set, kills by Ventimiglia and
Alaina Corbin (Stafford, Va.) off assists from
Maddie Oates (Rome, Ga.) set the Bears up for victory which would ultimately come on a Clark service error.
In the second set, a second Bear saw her first career action with freshman
Addison Krajicek (Aviano, Italy) entering the set with her team leading 20-9. Like Hololob did in the prior set, Krajicek quickly left her mark, with the set-clinching kill to give the Bears a 25-14 win.
In the third, Clark threatened. They took a 4-3 lead and remained within three of the Bears at numerous points but a five point Bear run finally gave them a comfortable lead of 16-8. For the third time in as many sets, a Coast Guard player made their collegiate debut, this time with
Bailey Downey (Manchester, Conn.) entering the action. On the backs of Lemmer and Ventimiglia, the Bears cruised to a set three 25-13 win. The match was clinched on a jump-serve ace by senior
Courtney Shire (Cape May, N.J.) which sent her bench into celebration around their coach for his historic win.
The Bears were led on attack by
Sam Ventimiglia and
Corey Lemmer, with 10 kills each. They spread the wealth in assists,
Ava Ahokovi (Honolulu, Hawaii) leading with 10 and six others recording at least one.
On defense, freshman
Asia Fulp (Seaside, Cal.) made the most of her first career start, leading the team in blocks with four. Senior libero
Courtney Shire led the squad in digs with 15, with 13 others recording one or more.
The 9-3 Bears will be at home again on Saturday October 3rd for a homecoming weekend matchup vs #19 Babson College. The Beavers currently sit at 10-2 after a 3-1 win over Wellesley earlier today.
