Amherst started the Classic with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Brandeis University on Friday. The Firedogs led for the entirety of the first set, sparked by back-to-back service aces from junior Erin Camp, with substantial defensive play from tri-captain Bethany Belisle ’10. Sophomore Cristy Meier ended the set with a decisive kill, the culmination of an 8-1 Amherst run. Brandeis responded by taking an early 3-0 lead in the second set, but tri-captain Jackie Berkley ’11 quickly got back on track with a kill.
However, the Judges answered with a 6-0 run and eventually took the second set. The third set was hard fought, with four ties and three lead changes early on before the firedogs pulled away using an 11-point run en route to a 25-15 win. Brandeis fought back to take the fourth set, but Amherst took the deciding set using the momentum off a huge kill by junior Laura Hymen to take the 15-7 set and 3-2 win.
However, the Firedogs streak ended abruptly Saturday morning as Middlebury handed them a 3-1 loss. The Panthers took first blood with two opening kills before Amherst countered with four straight points. After battling to an 8-8 tie, Middlebury went on a six-point run that gave them the momentum to take the first set 25-22, despite the Firedogs coming within a point.
The second set was equally thrilling. Amherst trailed until a kill from Berkley made it 10-9, but another Middlebury run left them down 17-12. Although the Firedogs were able to tie it up twice, they found themselves facing set point, 23-24. However, Meier and Emily Waterhouse ’13 came through with clutch kills to tie it up at 25-25. A service ace by Berkley gave Amherst a one point advantage, and Katherine Kanoff ’12 got the winning hit to finally end the nail-biter of a set in Amherst’s favor, 27-25.
In the third set, Amherst jumped out to take the lead first, but Middlebury came out of a timeout and took the lead. A Firedog hitting error gave the third set to the Panthers. Middlebury, trying to wrap up the match, controlled the fourth set, until Berkley again responded to bring her team even with the Panthers at 17 all, but the early deficit was too much to overcome, and Middlebury took the final set. While the Firedogs were able to recover, cruising to a 3-0 win against Westfield State, they are already reviewing the Middlebury game and prepping for some critical NESCAC matches next weekend.
Kanoff attributed the loss to poor play and unfamiliarity with the new Middlebury team, but is convinced that the loss gave them the experience and motivation to take down Middlebury in their next match-up.
“Middlebury has a couple freshman starting whose tendencies we didn’t really know and didn’t adjust to enough during the game,” commented Kanoff. “We didn’t play our best and it cost us the match. This being said, I’m excited to see Middlebury again because we’ll be ready for them and able to adjust our defense to pick up the balls that were going down this weekend.”
Meanwhile, Berkley is gearing up for the always-eventful Amherst-Williams match up.
“Williams games are always the most exciting of the season!” said Berkley. “We are ready to head up there and compete in a crucial set of NESCAC games, which will include having another shot at Middlebury.”
The Firedogs face Williams on Friday and have their rematch with Middlebury Saturday.