Engineers Overwhelmed as Springfield Volleyball Improves to 12-2
By Tiffany Williams –
Springfield didn’t waste time reminding WPI who runs Blake Arena. The Pride rolled to a straight-set win Saturday, dismantling the Engineers 25-14, 25-20, 25-15 in a NEWMAC clash that never tilted their way.
WPI was overrun early. Springfield blitzed to an 11-3 lead in the opener with Ahunna James, Alexa Bonato and Jodi Saelua hammering kills. By the time Anastasia Kelnik closed out WPI’s scoring, the Pride were already cruising to a 25-14 set.
The Engineers tried to flip the script in the second, jumping ahead 9-5 on kills from Bridget Spees, Kelnik and Olivia Hutchinson. But Springfield’s response was ruthless — a 7-1 run fueled by WPI errors and more firepower from James, Tori Colosimo and Aubrey Hughes. Hutchinson and Spees clawed WPI back within 18-21, but the Pride slammed the door 25-20.
By the third, Springfield smelled blood. The hosts stacked up 18 kills in the final frame, with Colosimo dishing 41 assists and keeping WPI scrambling. Zeala VanDamme sparked a brief push with three kills, and Kelnik, Hutchinson and Amelia Lynch added some offense, but the Pride steamrolled to the finish line with a 12-6 run.
Stat sheet says it all: Springfield spread the wealth, with James, Bonato and Emily Keaveney each putting down nine kills. Colosimo added four aces to her assist haul. WPI had Kelnik and Hutchinson fighting to keep it respectable, matching team-highs with eight kills apiece, but there was no counterpunch to Springfield’s balance.
The win bumps the Pride to 12-2 overall, 2-0 in league play, and gives them a 3-2 edge in the Greg Poole Match era. WPI drops to 7-6 and 0-2 in NEWMAC, still searching for rhythm.
Both teams are back on the court Tuesday night. WPI heads home to Harrington to face Mount Holyoke, while Springfield takes its momentum to Northampton against Smith.
