Tartans Sweep Two to Start Ithaca Tournament

(ITHACA, N.Y.) - The Carnegie Mellon University volleyball team dominated in its first two matches of the Ithaca College Tournament on Friday, October 10, winning both matches by 3-0 scores. The Tartans are now 15-4 after defeating host Ithaca and King's (Pa.) College.

The first match of the night was against Ithaca as the Tartans won, 25-15, 25-22, and 25-22. The team hit .218 for the match with 37 kills as freshman Heather Holton (Haslett, Mich./Haslett) led with 14 and senior Ali Celentano (Mission Viejo, Calif./JSerra Catholic) put down 10 kills. Sophomore Emily Newton (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Chadwick School) tallied 18 assists while sophomore Molly Higgins (Vero Beach, Fla./Vero Beach) led with 10 digs.

The Tartans hit even better in a three game sweep of King's, winning 25-11, 25-12 and 25-9, while hitting .381. Holton led with 10 kills while sophomore Casey Salandra (Carol Steam, Ill./St. Francis) hit .533 with nine kills. Newton served up 22 assists as freshman Amanda Thiele (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins) had 15 assists. Higgins led again with 11 digs.

Play resumes on Saturday with the Tartans facing Wells College at 11:00 a.m. and Utica College at 1:15 p.m at Ithaca.