NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Norwich scored 12 aces and hit at a .263 team clip en route to a dominant three-set win over Castleton on Tuesday at Andrews Hall. The Cadets secured the victory, 25-14, 25-4, 25-16, picking up their sixth win of the season in the process.
Senior Ana Lopez (Laredo, Texas) led the team with 10 kills, and tied junior Leah Mathewson (North Chelmsford, Mass.) for the team lead with one solo block and three assisted blocks. Matthewson would add four kills of her own along with two aces.
Reigning Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Libero of the Week Laura Farnum (North Andover, Mass.) scored a pair of team highs with six aces and 19 digs. Senior Maggie McNeil (Gilford, N.H) would tack on 11 digs and five kills, and senior Sarah Farnum (North Andover, Mass.) would lead the Cadets' passing game with 25 assists on the night.
Norwich jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first set, a lead that blossomed to 10-4 during a game-opening run that saw Lopez secure three of the team's first seven kills. Castleton cut the lead to two at 14-11, but four unanswered points put Norwich back in control before the Cadets closed out the first set with a 7-2 run.
Castleton scored the first point of the second set, but the Cadets stormed back with 11 unanswered to grasp firm control. A second, 8-0 run gave Norwich a 19-2 lead and the Cadets secured the 2-0 advantage with a five-point run to end the set. In the second, Norwich hit .261, blocked three shots and secured four aces, holding the Spartans without a kill during the set.
The two teams battled in the third, trading points before a three-point Castleton swing drew the Spartans to within one point at 14-13. However, one final six-point Norwich scoring run derailed the comeback as the Cadets were able to hold off Castleton down the stretch to clinch their 23rd consecutive win over Castleton.
Norwich will return to action on Friday, Sept. 30 for a GNAC Tri-Match during Parent & Family Weekend. The Cadets will take to the court for two matches on Friday, opening at 3 p.m. with St. Joseph's (Conn.) before battling Dean at 7 p.m.
