WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS – The Amherst College volleyball team battled hard through five sets against NESCAC rival, Williams College, this afternoon, but ultimately fell, 3-2 (16-25, 27-25, 13-25, 25-19, 10-15).
With today's result, the Mammoths end the regular season with an overall record of 7-10 (2-8 NESCAC). The Ephs advance to 18-6 overall (7-3 NESCAC).
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
* The Ephs came out hot to start the first set, scoring the first 8 of 9 points to take an early lead. Addison Lau notched the first kill of the match for the Mammoths. Naima Cho-Khaliq continued to generate kills for Amherst, earning 5 in the set. Gabrielle Hines and Sofia Camilo each notched kills for the Mammoths, as well, but the Ephs were dominant in the first set, winning 25-16.
* The second set was a battle for both teams. Chideraa Ngwadom, Lau, and Camilo all earned kills early in the set. A 4-point run for the Mammoths came from kills by Cho-Khaliq and Tiana Richardson, as well as back-to-back aces from Lau. This gave Amherst a slight advantage, 9-7, but the Ephs matched with a 5-point run of their own. The two teams continued to trade points throughout the set, keeping the score evenly matched. Late in the set, the Ephs scored 6 of 7 points to give them a 24-20 lead. The Mammoths held them at match point, though, scoring the next 5 to force the set to continue. With the score tied, 25-25, the Mammoths forced an attacking error by Williams. A kill from Ngwadom gave the Mammoths the set, 27-25.
* In the third set, Williams was offensively dominant. With the score at 7-5 in favor of the Ephs, Williams went on a 7-point run, making their lead 14-5. The Mammoths were able to earn some points back off of kills by Hines and Lau, and an ace from Lau, but the Ephs stayed on top and took the third set, 25-13.
* Down two sets to one, the Mammoths had to win in the fourth set. They set the tone right away, earning the first four points off of two kills by Ngwadom, a kill from Lau, and a combined block from the same two players. The Mammoths maintained their lead through the middle of the set, but the Ephs never trailed by more than 3. As the end of the set neared, the Mammoths had an offensive surge with kills coming from Lau, Alexandra Trofort, Ngwadom, and Camilo. The Mammoths won the fourth set, 25-19.
* In the fifth and final set, the Ephs came out hard, taking a 5-0 lead. The Mammoths continued to fight, with Ngwadom earning kills and combining for a block with Camilo. Two straight kills from Richardson, an ace from Eleanor Jones, and a combined block by Lau and Ngwadom gave the Mammoths the lead, 9-7, but it wasn't enough to trump the Ephs. Williams took the final set, 15-10.
BY THE NUMBERS
* Lau led both teams in kills, earning 16 through the five sets.
* Ngwadom tallied 11 total blocks in the match. Eight were assisted, and three were solo.
* Stella Jacey led the Mammoths with 15 digs.
