WILLIAMSBURG, VA. - William & Mary defeated Hampton in three sets for the Tribe's seventh sweep of the season Sunday afternoon in Kaplan Arena. The Green and Gold's seven 3-0 victories are the most produced by the program since the 2009 season.
The win boosted William & Mary to 6-4 in the league and 11-7 overall. The Tribe has defended its home court, improving to 6-2 on the season in Williamsburg.
Eleanor Stothoff was electric, smashing 18 kills on a .438 hitting percentage, while
Kaitlyn Ferguson was just as impressive with 11 kills hitting .346. As a team, the Tribe hit .309 to the Pirates' .134.
Amy Schwem had a double-double with 17 assists and 11 digs, while
Emma Minnick produced 15 assists and seven digs.
Anna Porter once again led the team with 13 digs in the three set outing.
The Tribe got solid play from freshmen middle blockers as
Ryann Love hit .556 with six kills and recorded six blocks, while
Olivia Esposito hammed three kills and had three blocks.
The Tribe hit an outstanding .484 in the first behind six kills from Stothoff and five from Ferguson in a 25-20 win. Minnick dished out nine assists and Porter added four digs, while
Sydney Taylor and
Taylor Burrell each added two kills. The Tribe offense provided an 80% side out rate to stop any chance for the Pirates to string together points.
Hampton roared back in the second to take six of the first seven points of the set before an 8-0 William & Mary run gave the Tribe a 13-9 edge. William & Mary would not take the foot off the gas as the Tribe rolled to a 25-18 second set win. Stothoff slammed six more kills and the Green and Gold defense led by three blocks from Love held Hampton to a .000 hitting percentage. Minnick, Schwem, and Porter all added four digs in the frame.
Stothoff took over in the third, slamming six kills, while Ferguson added three more without committing an error in the 27-25 clinching set. The back and forth fray saw 13 ties and six lead changes but the Tribe would prevail, limiting Hampton to a .065 hitting percentage.
William & Mary will be back in action next week as the Tribe visits CAA preseason favorite Towson for a pair of matches on the road.
