From University of Chicago Athletics
The No. 16-ranked University of Chicago volleyball got off to a strong start in the conference with wins over University of Rochester and New York University on Saturday.
The University Athletic Association (UAA) Round Robin #1 features three matches over the weekend for the Maroons, who improved their season record to 14-4. NYU is the host of the eight-team round robin. The Yellowjackets fell to 10-8 and the Violets dropped to 9-7.
UChicago 3, Rochester 0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-17)
After an initial 5-5 tie in the opening set, UChicago went on a 9-1 run and never looked back. The Maroons hit .382 and scored the last five points to win the set 25-15. UChicago continued its offensive dominance in the second set by posting a .448 hitting percentage and closing on a 6-1 run to take the second set 25-12. While the offensive efficiency fell off in the third set, the Maroons finished up the sweep handily 25-17.
The defense kept Rochester in check as the Yellowjackets hit .010 in the match with 25 kills and 24 errors. On the other side, UChicago hit .330 (43 kills, 10 errors, 100 attempts).
The team's top five attackers all hit over .300. Senior outside hitter Maren Loe spiked a match-high 16 kills. Senior outside hitter Jasmine Mobley and freshman outside hitter Audrey Scrafford replicated each other with nine kills on 20 attempts. Senior setter Ragine Graves handed out 35 assists and junior libero Mary Claire Tuohy dug 11 balls.
UChicago Stat Leaders
Maren Loe (Sr.) – 16 kills
Jasmine Mobley (Sr.) – 9 kills, 5 digs
Audrey Scrafford (Fr.) – 9 kills
Ragine Graves (Sr.) – 35 assists, 6 digs
Mary Claire Tuohy (Jr.) – 11 digs, 3 assists
UChicago 3, NYU 1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-21, 25-18)
The Violets kept pace for most of the first set and built a narrow 17-15 advantage. UChicago made short work of it with an 8-2 run and the Maroons went up a set at 25-20. However in the second set, NYU jumped out 7-2 and held onto its lead for the duration to knot the match at one set apiece (25-21). The hosts held a hitting percentage edge of .300 to .111.
After trailing for the entire second set, the Maroons righted the ship in the third while never relinquishing their lead. A 9-2 run midway through put UChicago in control, leading to a 25-21 set victory.
The fourth set see-sawed up until 15-14 in favor of NYU. Scrafford then smacked three kills in the next four points and UChicago pulled away decisively to take the match at 25-18.
In the final statistics, the Maroons hit .253 (63-24-154) with 80 digs and five blocks. The Violets hit .178 (45-18-154) with 58 digs and 10 blocks. Service aces ended up 6-5 in NYU's favor.
Loe's 23 kills gave her seven matches this season with at least 20 kills. She also added 10 digs. Graves tied her career best with 56 assists to go with a team-high 21 digs. The senior setter now has four matches with at least 50 assists this year.
Scrafford complemented Loe in the attack by tallying a career-high 19 kills. Defensively, Tuohy and junior Erin Risk finished with 15 and 13 digs, respectively.
UChicago Stat Leaders
Maren Loe (Sr.) – 23 kills, 10 digs
Audrey Scrafford (Fr.) – 19 kills, 3 blocks
Jasmine Mobley (Sr.) – 12 kills, 4 digs
Ragine Graves (Sr.) – 56 assists, 21 digs, 2 aces
Mary Claire Tuohy (Jr.) – 15 digs, 3 assists
Erin Risk (Jr.) – 13 digs