PLYMOUTH, N.H. - The Norwich University women's volleyball team fell to Plymouth State University in straight sets, 3-0 (9-25, 7-25, 10-25), on Tuesday evening at Foley Gym.
Grace Davie (Lynnfield, Mass.) led the Cadet attack with three kills while adding three digs. Ainslee Vargas (Rusk, Texas) contributed two kills on six attempts for a team-best .333 hitting percentage and directed the offense with eight assists. Aylei Connolly (Westfield, Mass.) added two kills, two digs, and Norwich's two service aces.
Defensively, Vanessa Whitmill (Fremont, Calif.) paced Norwich with seven digs, followed by Kelsey Slane (West Sand Lake, N.Y.) with six and Vargas with five. Davie, Slane, and Whitmill combined for 16 of the Cadets' 23 digs.
Norwich opened the first set by staying within striking distance early. After Plymouth State took a 4-1 lead, the Cadets answered with four consecutive points. Connolly and Vargas delivered back-to-back kills before Connolly served an ace and Davie added another kill, giving Norwich a 5-4 advantage.
The Panthers responded with a 9-1 run to move ahead, 13-6. Davie later recorded her second kill of the frame, but Plymouth State maintained control and closed the opening set with a 25-9 victory.
Norwich remained close during the early stages of the second set. Whitmill and Isabella Vasapolli (Pepperell, Mass.) each registered kills as the Cadets pulled within 5-4, while Taylor "Rae" Lawing (Allen, Texas) added a kill to make it 10-6.
Plymouth State created separation from there, using a lengthy service run to build a double-digit advantage. The Panthers finished the second set on a 15-1 surge to take it, 25-7, and move within one set of the match.
The Cadets scored first in the third set on a Plymouth State attack error, but the Panthers answered with five straight points to establish an early lead. Connolly supplied a kill before Norwich later received points from Vargas and Davie, cutting the deficit to 10-7.
Plymouth State gradually created separation from there, stretching its advantage to 18-9. Norwich earned one final point on a Panther attack error, but Plymouth State secured the last point to close the match with a 25-10 third-set victory.
The Panthers finished with a 32-10 advantage in kills and hit .426 for the match, while Norwich recorded 23 digs and two service aces. Plymouth State's Sya McKay led all players with 10 kills, while Danielle Emerson distributed a team-high 12 assists and added three kills without an attack error.
The Cadets return to Great Northeast Athletic Conference action on Friday, Sept. 11, when they hit the road to take on Rivier University at 6:00 p.m.
