Contact: Ben Badua

AMHERST, Mass. – Lizzie Ahern '16 hammered home a match-high 15 kills to lead the Amherst women's volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-13) sweep of NESCAC rival Wesleyan.

Notching their sixth-consecutive victory over the Cardinals, the Jeffs improved to 7-4 (3-2 NESCAC), while Wesleyan dropped to 4-9 (0-6 NESCAC).

Amherst jumped out to a 9-3 first set lead on an Abigail Hunter '13 and Ahern block. Going up 19-8 on a Nicole Carter '16 service ace, the Jeffs closed out a 25-12 win. 

Trailing 4-1 to start the second, the Amherst battled back within two at 14-12 before later opening up a 17-14 margin on an Ahern kill. The first-year outside hitter kept the Purple & White rolling, putting the home team up 21-15 with another spike before logging her ninth kill of the set to put the wraps on a 25-18 victory.

Grabbing a 9-6 lead in the third, the Jeffs scored nine of the frame's next 11 points, building an 18-8 cushion on an Emily Waterhouse '13 kill. Up 24-13 after another Ahern spike, Amherst completed the three-game sweep on a Wesleyan hitting error.

Hitting .520, Ahern committed just two errors on 25 swings, while adding five digs and two block assists. Lauren Antion '15 registered a .583 attack rate, finishing with seven kills and eight digs, while Carter handed out 27 assists. 

Laura Volgenau '13 paced Wesleyan with six kills, while Brenna Tharnstrom '16 handed out seven assists. Sophia Davila '16 picked up a match-high 13 digs, while Kate Centofanti '13 added seven.

Amherst returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 6 against Conn. College.