From Case Western Reserve University Athletics

The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team opened the first day of the CWRU Quad with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 26-24) win over Averett University at Horsburgh Gymnasium in Cleveland on Friday night.

The Spartans improved to 5-1 with the win, while the Cougars fell to 3-2.

Senior middle blocker Jennifer Ngo led the team with 10 kills and added three block assists. Junior outside hitter Rea Marfatia had a team-high 14 digs and eight kills, and sophomore middle blocker Amanda Ngo contributed seven kills, six block assists, and nine digs. Junior setter/outside hitter Carly Scott (16 assists) and senior setter Ansley Yamaato (15 assists) split the setting duties for the team.

CWRU started the match on a 10-0 run to open an early double-digit lead. The visitors eventually cut the deficit to five, trailing 17-12. The Spartans won four of the next six points to lead by seven. The team came within one point of clinching the set after each team won three points. However, the Cougars won three consecutive points to continue the set and force a Spartan timeout. A block by Amanda Ngo and Marfatia gave CWRU a 1-0 lead in the match.

After starting the second set down 3-1, the Spartans won 10 of the next 12 points to take an 11-5 lead. Averett then used a 9-1 run to claim a two-point advantage. CWRU tied the score on a kill by Marfatia, and, following an Averett kill, the Spartans used a 6-1 run to take a four-point lead late in the set. Two quick Averett points halved the Case Western Reserve advantage, but a service error followed by a service ace from senior libero Alyssa Blessinger put the Spartans three points from clinching the set. Kills by Jennifer Ngo, junior setter/outside hitter Carly Scott, and senior setter Ansley Yamaato put away the set.

Neither team led by more than two points in a back-and-forth start to the third set. The final set featured seven ties and four lead changes. Late in the set, Averett, leading 17-16, won three points in a row to lead by four. A kill by Amanda Ngo and a Cougar attacking error brought the Spartans within two. The visitors then won three of the next four points to come within one of forcing a fourth set. A kill by first-year outside hitter Emily Goodpaster kept the set alive. She followed with a service ace to energize the Horsburgh crowd, and a kill by Marfatia brought the Spartans within one. An Averett attacking error tied the score at 24, and Marfatia put CWRU one point away from winning the match with a kill. Still on the serve of Goodpaster, the Spartans forced an attacking error to secure the win on a match-ending 6-0 run.