Johnson Hosts Inaugural Home Volleyball Match

JOHNSON, Vt. - Johnson State Athletics proudly introduced their women's volleyball program to their home fans today in the new Carter Gymnasium.  The first-year program played the first contest in the newly renovated space that includes new flooring surface and bleacher seating.  Though the Badgers fell to the University of Maine-Machias and Lyndon State College, both by the score of 3-1, the energy and enthusiasm in the gym was inspiring and there is good reason for excitement about the future of the program.    

 

MACHIAS 3, JOHNSON 1

23-25, 25-13, 25-14, 25-14  

JSC scores on a service ace by Alex Benlock in the first ever serve in a home Johnson State volleyball match!!!

 

Freshman Alex Benlock (West Haven, Conn.) opened the first game of the first-ever home match for the Badgers in fine fashion by lacing a serve between a pair of Machias players for the service ace and the 1-0 JSC lead.  The energized JSC squad looking for their first win of the season play inspired volleyball in the first game taking the first stanza 25-23.  Machias would come back to win the next three games to defeat Johnson 3-1 but the Badgers were competitive throughout falling 25-13, 25-14, and 25-14.  

 

Benlock, Jessica Pafumi (Monson, Mass.), and Kelly Dorohow (North Fayston, Vt.) each had five kills in the match while Kylie Van Etten (Montrose, Penn.) had team-high's of 13 assists and eight digs.  Machias' Sarah Blankenship paced the Clippers with 14 kills while Alex Kolinich recorded 15 digs.    

Johnson State playing thier inaugural home volleyball match!!!

 

LYNDON 3, MACHIAS 0

25-19, 25-20, 25-16  

 

Lyndon State rolled past Maine-Machias in the second match of the day by the scores of 25-19, 25-20, and 25-16.  In each of the matches, close throughout, the Hornets pulled away late and played their best ball in the final points of the games.  

 

Morgan Reilly's 12 assist, 10 dig effort led the way for Lyndon while big-hitting Kayla Borbst had eight kills and a trio of blocks.  Machias' Elisa Boyd was a standout with eight assists and eight digs for the match while Sabree Rodriguez recorded a team-best seven kills.    

 

LYNDON 3, JOHNSON 1

25-18, 25-15, 23-25, 25-16  

 

In the final match of the day Lyndon defeated Johnson 3-1 in another competitive match for the young Badgers.  After falling in the first two games, Johnson worked their way to a 25-23 win of the third game to extend the match and the inaugural volleyball event.  

 

The gritty Badgers received fine efforts from Van Etten with eight assists, 12 digs, and six service aces while Beth Lilligreen (North Kingstown, R.I.) paced JSC with seven kills and 17 digs.  Lyndon's Reilly was outstanding throughout tallying 21 assists and nine digs while Maegan Fried's 10 kills and 12 digs aided in the victory. Â