CASTLETON, Vt.—The Norwich University volleyball team posted a 3-0 non-conference win against the Spartans of Castleton State College on Wednesday afternoon. With the win, the Cadets improve to 10-12 on the season, while the loss drops the Spartans to 8-11.

In the opening set, Norwich took an early 10-4 lead, but the Spartans responded with a run of their own to bring the score back within three at 12-9. The Cadets, powered by 14 kills, six services aces and a block, fought off the Castleton comeback to post a 25-17 win in game one. Tara Lyons (Pocasset, Mass.) led the Cadets with four kills and three service aces in opening stanza.

In the second game, Norwich would rally from an early three-point deficit to score seven-straight points to bring the score to 11-4.  The two teams would trade points, but the Cadets would pull away to claim the 2-0 lead with a 25-13 win in game two. Jennette Chartrand (Poestenkill, N.Y.) led Norwich with six service aces.

In the final game, Castleton matched Norwich point-for-point until the Cadets broke the lead open to 13-6 led by strong serving by Corrine Baita (Rochester, N.H.). A pair of service aces by Castleton's Ruth Tomlinson would bring the score to 13-8, but the Norwich defense would achieve the side-out on Tomlinson's third serve of the rotation. Norwich would outscore Castleton 12-6 in the final points to clinch the non-conference win with a 25-14 win in game three.

The Cadets were led offensively by Lyons, who totaled 11 kills and three service aces.  Chartrand led Norwich in serving with a season-best nine service aces and also totaled a team-high 10 digs. Haley Vermes (Westborough, Mass.) and MaryRose Meany (Goshen, N.Y.) led the team at the net with two blocks apiece.  Gabrielle Miller (Grove City, Ohio) dished out a match-high 30 assists. 

Castleton was led by Sarah Wheeler with five kills.  Shelby Smyth totaled seven assists for the Spartans, while Nicole Valastro posted a team-high six digs.

Norwich recorded a season-best .305 hitting percentage in the matchup while holding Castleton to .132 hitting percentage.

The Cadets return to action on Saturday, traveling to Emerson College for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match.  The Cadets will take on St. Joseph's (ME) at 1:00, followed by a match with Emerson at 3:00 p.m.