CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Bowdoin College volleyball team shrugged off a first set loss to dispatch Johnson & Wales, 3-1, in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament Friday afternoon at MIT.
The Polar Bears (22-4) defeated the Wildcats (20-9) to advance to Saturday's regional semifinal by a score of 20-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-23.
Match Highlights
- Bowdoin owned an early 10-7 lead in the opening set before a 5-1 run drew JWU even midway through the set. The Wildcats used another 5-1 run to pull ahead for good, and put away the Polar Bears on a kill from Masina Tupea.
- The Polar Bears settled down from there, dominating sets two and three to take the overall lead.
- Bowdoin took the lead for good with a 5-0 run early in the second, and closed the set on a 4-1 run to take it 25-17 on consecutive aces from Sophia Pahl.
- It was much of the same in the third, as the Polar Bears rolled off a 7-1 surge to take control. Bowdoin led the rest of the way and sealed it with an Allyson Hawkins kill, 25-19.
- The Polar Bears never trailed in the fourth set, extending their lead to as many as five points, 23-18, late before JWU closed the gap to 24-23. Hawkins put home a feed from Ella Haugen, to clinch the win for Bowdoin, 25-23.
By The Numbers
- Sophia Pahl put home 17 kills to lead Bowdoin to the victory while Allyson Hawkins recorded 12 kills and 13 digs.
- Cori Gray had nine kills and four blocks while Jaida Hodge-Adams totaled seven kills and 13 digs.
- Ella Haugen dished out 50 assists to go with four kills and nine digs.
- The Polar Bears overcame 14 service errors while JWU had nine. Bowdoin hit at .277 for the match compared to .225 for the Wildcats.
Up Next
- Bowdoin will face Susquehanna in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at MIT.
