Nicklas Heminger
Sports Editor
The Anchorwomen’s volleyball team couldn’t have asked for a better start to their season. They are now 3-0 following their win on Thursday versus Lesley University.
The Anchorwomen’s first game back saw them on the road in an away game. Their first of three games so far started off with a tough matchup versus Elms College. Amelie Murphy led RIC with 15 kills, while also providing five aces and 15 digs – helping overcome Elms’ great start in set one. Rhiannon Hodovanec also played a key role in the win with an additional five aces, 10 kills and a team-leading 17 digs. Angelly Polanco, whose sister is teammate Janelly Polnaco, led the team in blocks with two, and Sydney Green finished with a team high 28 assists.
Their win wasn’t just an important start to the campaign for the Anchorwomen, but also a milestone for Head Coach Jenn Cabral. This is Cabral’s first win as the team’s new Head Coach.
RIC then hosted the Salem State Vikings, whom the college has posted an undefeated record against since 2014 with every win finishing a clean 3-0 set sweep. The match was tightly contested throughout with every set finishing within 3 points. No lead was safe throughout the match as each set saw at least one lead change, and the resilience of the Anchorwomen was on full display throughout. RIC fell behind 17-11 in the first set before clawing back to grind out a 25-23 win in the first set. The second set saw both teams tied at 17-17, but RIC was able to take the lead and never look back taking the set 25-22.
The Anchorwomen needed to win one more set to sweep Salem State, and looked poised to finish the job in the third set holding the lead throughout most of the match. However, RIC fell behind Salem State 24-22 and things appeared to be heading to a fourth set.
The Anchorwomen had other plans and scored 3 consecutive points to take a 25-24 lead, before winning the set 27-25. Murphy led the team in kills for the second straight game with 12. Hodovanec and Angelly Polanco both had eight kills. Megan Philbrick led the team with five aces, and Green led the team in assists with 24. Murphy, Janelly Polanco and Angelly Polanco shared a team lead with one block each. Hodovanec led the team with 13 digs. Murphy and Gracie Albrighton followed close behind Hodovanec with 12 and 11 respectively. RIC continues their record versus Salem State following that 3-0 sweep – marking their fifth straight win over them.
The Anchorwomen looked to cap off a terrific start to the season and capture a win away at Lesley University. RIC soundly defeated Lesley in three straight sets to capture the team’s third straight victory. RIC looked dominant throughout the match taking set one 25-11, before promptly routing Lesley in the next two sets allowing only a combined 7 points.
Albrighton led the team in kills with five, with Murphy providing four kills and Janelly Polanco added three. Angelly Polanco led the RIC with six aces in a match that saw the Anchorwomen combine for a mind-blowing 30 service aces. Natalie Reid led the team with eight assists, while Murphy, Green and Hodovanec all had a team-high one dig.
The Anchorwomen’s next game is right here on campus at the Murray Center against Western Connecticut State University on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 12 p.m.