NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University women's volleyball team snapped its skid in impressive fashion on Friday afternoon, defeating Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), 3-1 (25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 25-14), in a non-conference matchup at Andrews Hall.
The Cadets opened Homecoming Weekend by taking the first two sets, weathering an MCLA response in the third, and delivering their most commanding frame of the afternoon in the fourth to secure their second victory of the season.
The triumph marked Norwich's first victory over MCLA since 2021 and its first home win against the Trailblazers since 2014.
Grace Davie (Lynnfield, Mass.) led the Norwich attack with a match-high 10 kills while committing just one attack error on 23 attempts for a .391 hitting percentage. Davie also contributed four service aces and nine digs, finishing with a match-high 14 points.
Isabella Vasapolli (Pepperell, Mass.) added seven kills and six digs, while Taylor "Rae" Lawing (Allen, Texas) chipped in three kills, a service ace, and a block assist. Elexis Powell (Charlotte Hall, Md.) recorded three kills and was involved in a pair of blocks, including Norwich's lone solo block of the match.
The Cadets also received steady play from their setters, as Ainslee Vargas (Rusk, Texas) handed out a team-high 11 assists with seven digs, while Vanessa Whitmill (Fremont, Calif.) collected 10 assists, a career-high eight service aces, and nine digs in an all-around performance.
Defensively, Kelsey Slane (West Sand Lake, N.Y.) anchored the back row with a match-high 20 digs, while Josephine Whitney (Holbrook, Mass.) added five. Norwich totaled 60 digs and 16 service aces as a team, with six different Cadets recording at least five digs.
Norwich jumped out quickly in the opening set, racing to a 5-0 advantage behind Whitmill's serve. The sophomore setter delivered an ace during the opening surge while Aylei Connolly (Westfield, Mass.) supplied the Cadets' first kill.
Norwich maintained control throughout the frame. Lawing, Powell, and Charlotte Johnson (Moultonborough, N.H.) helped the Cadets build the margin to 13-7 before MCLA began to close the gap.
The Trailblazers eventually trimmed the Norwich lead to 16-15, but the Cadets answered immediately. Davie delivered four kills over Norwich's final nine points, while Lawing supplied an ace and another kill to help the maroon and gold pull away for the 25-20 opening-set victory.
The second set developed into the tightest battle of the afternoon, featuring five ties and two lead changes.
Vasapolli supplied three early kills as Norwich raced to a 9-4 lead before MCLA countered with five straight points to draw even. The Cadets rebuilt their cushion behind Whitmill, whose back-to-back service aces highlighted a four-point run that made it 15-10.
Norwich later led, 20-16, following a Davie ace, but the Trailblazers answered with five consecutive points to take their first lead of the set at 21-20.
The Cadets immediately regained their composure.
After a service error tied the frame, Vasapolli and Lawing combined for a block to put Norwich back in front. Vasapolli followed with her fifth kill of the set to make it 23-22, and after MCLA pulled within 24-23, Connolly finished the frame with a kill to give Norwich a 25-23 victory and a commanding 2-0 match advantage.
MCLA answered in the third despite another strong start from Norwich.
Whitmill opened the frame by serving four aces during a 5-0 Cadet run, and Norwich later pushed the advantage to 11-7 behind a Vargas ace. The Trailblazers steadily worked their way back, however, eventually pulling even at 11-11 before taking their first lead at 13-12.
MCLA extended the margin to 24-17 before Norwich mounted one final push, receiving a Powell kill, a Davie ace, and a Trailblazer attack error to pull within four. MCLA ultimately secured the next point for a 25-20 victory, extending the match to a fourth set.
The Cadets left little doubt in the deciding frame.
MCLA opened with a 7-2 advantage, but Norwich began to chip away. Davie delivered consecutive kills before following with back-to-back service aces, trimming the deficit to 9-8.
Norwich eventually pulled even at 11-11 and, after the sides traded the next two points, took complete control behind the serving of Brook Wolcott (Easthampton, Mass.).
With the Cadets ahead, 13-12, Wolcott stepped to the line and helped engineer an eight-point surge. She recorded two service aces during the run, while Davie and Connolly supplied kills as Norwich surged to a 21-12 advantage.
MCLA managed two more points, but the afternoon belonged to the Cadets.
Davie delivered three kills across Norwich's final four points, including back-to-back finishes to close the match, as the Cadets wrapped up the fourth set, 25-14, and celebrated the four-set Homecoming Weekend victory. Davie was nearly unstoppable in the closing frame, recording six kills without an error on nine swings for a .667 hitting percentage.
As a team, Norwich finished with 30 kills, 26 assists, 16 service aces, 60 digs, and three total blocks. MCLA concluded the afternoon with 41 kills, nine aces, and 74 digs. The Cadets limited the Trailblazers to a .068 hitting percentage for the match, including just .028 in the decisive fourth set.
Norwich will return to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Wednesday, Oct. 21, traveling to New Haven, Conn., for a 7:00 p.m. matchup against Albertus Magnus College.
The Cadets will then return to Andrews Hall on Friday, Oct. 23, hosting Simmons University at 6:00 p.m. for Senior Day to open Parents & Family Weekend.
