After falling to St. Joseph’s College in Friday’s season opener, the Bates volleyball team reeled off three straight wins, including a 3-1 victory over St. Joe’s in the championship match on Saturday, to win the four-team St. Joseph’s Invitational.
Senior captain Nicole Russell (Boca Raton, Fla.) received tournament MVP honors for her outstanding performance in three of Bates' matches on the weekend, tallying a whopping 88 digs over 11 sets, for an 8.00 average.
Russell had 35 digs in Bates' most impressive victory of the early season, a 3-1 defeat of St. Joe's in the championship match on Saturday. The Bobcats were able to shake off not only their 3-1 loss to the Monks the previous night, but also to overcome losing the first set on Saturday and coming back to claim the second set en route to the 20-25, 26-24, 25-15, 26-24 win.
The Bobcats opened the tournament, and their season, with their first loss to St. Joe’s in the past 10 meetings, a streak dating to 1997, by a 14-25, 25-22, 26-24, 25-20 score. Russell played well in the loss, tallying 37 digs, six kills and four aces.
Bates (4-1) plays host to Hamilton (2-3) on Friday at 8pm, opening NESCAC play for both teams.
