With a 3-0 sweep of Maine Maritime on Tuesday, the women's volleyball team closed its otherwise disappointing week on a positive note. The victory over Maritime marked a return from a 1-2 weekend, where the Polar Bears started off strong against Hamilton on Friday, but fell to Williams and Middlebury on Saturday.
Against Maritime, however, the Bears showed little hesitation, not once permitting the Mariners to score above 20 points. The quick match consisted of three definitive sets with final tallies of 25-16, 25-16 and 25-14.
Tuesday was significant for the emphasis it placed on the seniors in the volleyball program, who were all present on the court for the final key set. Co-captain Gillian Page '10 led the team with 11 kills, seven aces and 15 digs, while Co-captain Jenna Diggs '10 posted eight assists and four digs. Kelsey Howe '10 notched an additional kill.
However, these accomplishments constitute only the latest in a string of 2010 contributions to the volleyball program. Page, Diggs and Howe have played for the team throughout the 70 wins it has secured over the past four years, making them part of the second-best class in its history. They rank first in team history for winning percentage of games.
The younger Polar Bears show no sign of letting their team slide in the coming years. Sophomore Kristin Hanczor and first year Stephanie Bond added a respective eight kills and 18 assists against Maritime, while their underclassmen peers demonstrated similar prowess in the Middlebury matches.
In the Williams and Middlebury matches, Bowdoin started strong, topping its first set against Williams at 25-17 and against Middlebury 25-23. However, the Polar Bears could not maintain the lead in either, dropping the next three sets to close at 1-3 in both.
But, the matches were not without significant moments of individual success from all classes of players. Hanczor collected an impressive 15 kills against Williams, next to Page's nine kills and 14 digs. Setter Diggs provided an additional 37 assists and 25 digs.
With 19 kills and 14 digs, Page was key on both offensive and defensive fronts against Middlebury. Melissa Haskell '13 performed similarly, notching 10 kills and 18 digs, while Hanczor completed her second game in a row with double-digit kills at 10. All three players built off of Bond's 37 total assists.
First years were particularly effective in Friday's sweep of Hamilton, where Bowdoin began with tight victories of 25-22 and 25-23 only to crush the Continentals 25-6 in the third and final set. Haskell and Victoria Edelman '13 each contributed five kills off of Bond's team-high 10 assists, and were further a part of Bowdoin's overall season-high 22 kills throughout the match. Page was also effective against Hamilton, with eight kills and six aces. Defensively, Jillian Berkman '12 posted 15 digs.
"We have won most of the games we were 'expected' to win due to standings and past-season performances, but we have yet to really pull a major upset," Gina Lonati '12 said. "Lately in NESCAC, this has been happening a lot with other teams, and it's time Bowdoin gets in the mix and continues the theme."
While victories over Williams and Middlebury would have been opportune for this kind of overhaul, the Polar Bears have the continued chances to prove themselves with upcoming matches at this weekend's Hall of Fame Tournament.
Seeded second in the silver bracket, Bowdoin faces Gordon College at 5 p.m. today before a TBD opponent and time on Saturday.