Mitchell College Volleyball Loses to Lesley but Waterford's Danielle Johnson Played Well

Lesley University came away with a 3-1 victory (25-19, 16-25, 25-20, 25-12) on Saturday afternoon in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) women’s volleyball contest at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Danielle Johnson (Waterford, Conn./Waterford) recorded a team-high eight kills while Katrina Stroganoff (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) added seven to pace Lesley (6-8 overall, 2-1 NECC). Johnson also handed out 18 assists and served for a match-high five aces. Senior Gloria Charles (New Haven, Conn./Hillhouse) led Mitchell (4-9 overall, 1-1 NECC) with a match-high 11 kills and 11 digs.

Lesley scored the first five points of the day to take control of the opening set. Mitchell eventually whittled the margin down to two at 10-8, but the Lynx never let the lead slip away.  Mitchell evened the match by winning the second set, with Charles contributing three kills and both Barbara Fontes (Stratford, Conn./Stratford) and Amanda Garcia (New Britain, Conn./New Britain) adding a pair. 

The two sides then went back and forth early on in a third set that featured seven ties. With the score knotted at 14-14, Lesley pulled ahead on a service error and then got back-to-back aces from Stroganoff. The Lynx never trailed again in the set en route to a 2-1 lead.

Mitchell jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth set, but Lesley rallied back to win 15 of the next 19 points to take command. Jessie Reynolds (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) served for five points during the stretch while Johnson served for six, including four straight aces. Johnson later added the finishing touch with a kill on match point.

Rathjens and Danielle McDonald (Lilitz, Pa./Manheim Township) each finished with five kills for the Lynx. Katey Carew (Salem, N.H./Central Catholic) led Lesley with a match-high 14 digs while both McDonald (12) and Stroganoff (10) also finished in double digits in the category.

Garcia and freshman Amanda Rowan (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) each recorded seven kills for the Mariners. Sophomore Nicole Caminiti (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Churchill School & Center) handed out a match-high 26 assists.

Mitchell will next host Newbury College on Wednesday, October 9 at 6 p.m. Lesley returns to action at Framingham State College onMonday, October 7 at 6 p.m.