An all-around offensive display got the Marist back in the win column, as the Red Foxes dismantled Saint Peter’s in straight sets (28-26, 25-22, 25-18) at McCann Arena.
Graduate student setter Claire Lewis and freshman setter Caelyn Dumas effectively spread the ball around the court, giving the Peacocks a well-rounded attack to attempt to slow down; they failed to do so, as the Red Foxes ripped 44 kills on 83 attempts.
“I think we were using the blockers really well,” said freshman right-side hitter Ava Lanzetta, who recorded a career high of nine kills.
Entering Saturday’s match, Lanzetta had just six kills on the season. She cleared that amount with ease in Marist’s three-set victory; her nine kills came on only 14 swings.
“She’s really ‘assignment sound.’ She’s one of our best blockers in terms of lining up hitters, being in the right spot… and playing volleyball,” said head coach Sean Byron. “It was nice to see her get in and get a chance to show that.”
Lanzetta proved to be ready for her assignment on Saturday, stepping up off the bench and delivering her best performance of the season.
Freshman outside hitter Mallory Reck also had an efficient day, landing 10 kills on a .389 hitting percentage. The Red Foxes had five players tally five or more kills, including junior outside hitter Sara Dasic (nine kills), sophomore middle blocker Sarah Bumstead (seven kills) and freshman right side hitter Eleana Koute (six kills).
“We had really great passing, and the setters have been doing a great job, really working hard to connect with all of us,” said Bumstead.
Though Marist looked dominant in the second and third sets, they narrowly avoided a frustrating loss in a very sloppy first set.
The Red Foxes and Peacocks each got in their own ways in the early going, as errors riddled the box score to start the match. At the 15-point media timeout, with Saint Peter’s leading 15-14, both teams’ hitting percentages sat in the negatives – Marist at -.067 and Saint Peter’s at -.077.
In addition to the abundance of attack errors, both sides gave away points at the service line. The Peacocks made two service errors, while Marist contrasted their two aces with four missed serves of their own.
The errors nearly cost the Red Foxes the set, after they reached set point first, leading 24-21. Sophomore outside hitter Eden Bristow got stuffed, Dasic got denied twice and also swung into the net, putting Saint Peter’s a point away from going up 1-0.
Dasic composed herself and got a block of her own to keep Marist alive, but then sent an attack out of bounds, giving Saint Peter’s another set point opportunity.
Lanzetta, an unlikely hero, stepped up when it mattered most for Marist.
Lanzetta had played sparingly in Marist’s first 12 matches and entered earlier in the set after sophomore right-side hitter Taylor Miller missed her first two swings. Trailing 26-25, Lanzetta knotted the score with a kill out of serve receive.
“Always be ready,” Lanzetta said of her mindset when coming off the bench. “When I get out there, I try to make the biggest impact and use the most of my opportunities that I can.
Lewis went back to her on the ensuing point, and Lanzetta converted again. Dasic then redeemed herself and finally put the set to bed, serving a set-clinching ace.
The Peacocks regrouped as freshman outside hitter Lara Martinez scored two kills to give Saint Peter’s a 7-5 lead. There, a 5-0 Marist run swung the set in its favor, leading to a timeout from Saint Peter’s head coach Fernando Colon. The Red Foxes never relinquished the lead, as they went on to win the set 25-22.
Marist settled in offensively in the second, swinging for 15 kills. Their impressive .444 hitting percentage marked the Red Foxes’ highest single-set mark on the season.
Once again, Marist utilized an early scoring streak to swing the lead in their favor to prompt another Colon timeout. Though the Peacocks momentarily tied the score, the Red Foxes ran away with the set.
Somehow, Marist put together an even better set on offense, smashing 16 kills on only 23 attempts.
As they look forward to Tuesday’s match against Siena, Byron and the Red Foxes are undoubtedly relieved to have notched their first MAAC victory of the season.
“If we were to lose this match and start the season 0-2, that probably doesn’t feel great,” Byron laughed.
Edited by Jaylen Rizzo
Graphic by Isabel Cortese
Photo by Gene Barbieri
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