NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The MCLA volleyball team earned a 3-0 sweep over Castleton State in nonconference action Thursday at the Amsler Campus Center, 25-16, 25-20, 25-20.

 

With the victory the Trailblazers improve to 12-6 on the season while the Spartans fall to 4-15.

 

The first set was tightly contested with neither team able to create any separation until a Shannon O'Brien service ace gave MCLA (12-6) a 16-12 advantage forcing a Castleton timeout. The Spartans (4-15) responded by taking the next two points, but from there it was all Trailblazers. MCLA went on a 9-2 run to close out the set winning it 25-16.

 

The Trailblazers kept the momentum to begin the second set, jumping out to an early 7-1 advantage. At 10-6 Castleton called a timeout and again responded, taking the next four points. The two teams were tied again at 16-16 before another set winning run (9-4) capped off by a Chloie Garber kill gave MCLA a commanding 2-0 lead.

 

Another Garber kill made it 10-5 to start the third set, but Castleton fought back to cut the deficit to one at 10-9. MCLA stretched the lead to 17-11, but the Spartans caught the Trailblazers at 17-all. As they had done in the previous two sets, MCLA closed things out on an impressive 8-3 run and an Elizabeth Brown kill ended match.

 

Garber led the Trailblazers with 13 kills, six digs and three aces. Lee High graduate Brown added eight kills and 15 digs.

 

MCLA visits MASCAC rival Salem State on Saturday.