WEST POINT, N.Y. (October 29, 2015) -- For the second time, three Black Knights recorded double-double performances in four set victories. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point women's volleyball team defeated Colgate 3-1 at Gillis Field House to increase its winning streak to seven in a row. The Cadets won in four with set scores of 17-25, 27-25, 25-16 and 25-16, Oct. 24.
Cadets Vanessa Edwards, Amber Clay and Jaden Pickell all recorded double-doubles in the win over the Raiders. Edwards tallied 51 assists and 14 digs, while Clay recorded 13 kills and 14 digs, and Pickell had 10 kills and 13 digs. Perri added 17 kills and Cadet Carolyn Bockrath had nine along with four block assists. Cadet Shannel Chong had 16 digs to lead Army defensively.
"We are really proud of the team for finding a way to win tonight," said head coach Alma Kovaci. "After the second game our defense picked up quite a bit and we were able to convert digs to kills. I thought our bench did a great job today with their enthusiasm and the energy they brought. Everyone that came in off the bench impacted the momentum of the game. It was not our best game, but we found a way to win and that is all that matters right now. We know what we need to work on and can't wait until next week's practice."
Colgate came out strong in set one to win 25-17. The Raiders gained a 17-12 lead forcing an Army timeout. Colgate came back to earn a point before Bockrath tallied a kill. Colgate earned two points before the Black Knights called timeout.
The Cadets earned a point of a Raiders service error and one from Vanessa Wesley. Colgate gained two-straight points off a block and a blocking error by Army to bring the set to 23-16 in favor of the Raiders. Clay tallied a kill for Army from Edwards, but Colgate closed out with the last two points to clinch the set.
In set two, the Raiders were leading 21-16, but an 11-4 run by the Black Knights gave Army the set. After a Colgate timeout, Edwards earned a kill by dumping the ball over the net. Rachel Gearon and Pickell earned another Army point off a block.
Perri tallied a kill while the Raiders recorded one of their own. Gearon and Pickell earned another blocking point before Colgate had an attacking error to give Army another point. Clay had two kills from Edwards and then the Raiders earned a point.
Pickell was assisted by Edwards followed by two points for the Raiders. Two errors by Colgate gave Army its next two points before Edwards and Bockrath earned a blocking point to clinch set two. The Cadets jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in set three and maintained their lead throughout the set.
Army went on a 6-2 run to take an 18-12 lead in set three and force a Colgate timeout. The Raiders tallied a point off a block and kill, but Pickell and Clay earned back-to-back kills to bring the score to 20-15. Perri earned a kill to give Army a 22-15 lead. The Black Knights earned two points off Colgate errors to set the Cadets up for set point. Perri clinched the set off a kill from Edwards to give Army a 2-1 lead in the match.
In set four, Army went on a 6-0 run to take a 16-10 lead. Gearon earned back-to-back points off a kill then a block before Perri was assisted by Edwards to give the Black Knights a 16-10 lead and force a Colgate timeout.
Gearon earned Army's 19th point of the set off an assist from Edwards. Clay recorded a kill before an error by Colgate pushed Army out to a 21-13 lead. The Raiders tallied a kill and block to bring the set within six. Pickell and Perri recorded kills to increase the Black Knights' advantage to 23-16. Colgate and Perri traded kills and then Gearon clinched the match off a kill.
The Black Knights improves to 17-6 overall and 9-1 in the Patriot League with tonight's win, while Colgate fell to 9-13 and 7-4. Army is back in action Oct. 30-31, at Gillis Field House when the Cadets host Loyola and American.
Related Links:
U.S. Army Garrison West Point website
Army West Point Athletics website
Social Sharing