Top Seeds Advance from Quarterfinals in Volleyball Championship

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The top seeded Williams volleyball team defeated eighth seeded Bowdoin in the NESCAC quarterfinals 3-0 (30-14, 30-15, 30-14).

Bates College, seeded just behind Williams, defeated seventh seeded Middlebury 3-0 (30-23, 30-26, 30-21) in other quarterfinal action. Lacee Patterson led the Panthers with 13 digs and 6 kills. Middlebury’s Katy Hicks had 8 kills and 4 digs.

The third seed in the tournament, Colby College, defeated sixth ranked Wesleyan in five games 3-2 (36-34, 28-30, 30-19, 23-30, 15-12). The teams were evenly matched and most games were close until the very end. Wesleyan jumped out to an early lead in the fifth game and was helped by several Colby service errors, but the Cardinals could not pull out the win. Wesleyan’s Carey Myslewski led her team with 11 kills and 5 service aces. Marielle Lesnevich had 9 kills, and Katie Annand had 52 assists for the Cardinals. Stats have not yet been provided by Colby.

Tufts University, the fifth seed heading into the tournament, fell to fourth ranked Amherst College. The Lord Jeffs pulled off a nerve wracking come from behind 3-2 (25-30, 21-30, 32-30, 30-27, 16-14) win in a hard fought five game match. Amherst was a mere two points from elimination in the third game, but Tufts faltered in the closing points and Amherst took the game 32-30. Tufts cam out strong in the early parts of game four, but Amherst caught up, pulled even late in the game and eventually forced a game five. Stats have not yet been provided by Tufts or Amherst.

Williams will face Amherst Saturday at 11:00am in the NESCAC semifinals. Bates will play Colby in the other semifinal, also at 11:00am. The two winners of those games will play for the NESCAC Championship at 3:00pm.