Hamilton College defeated host Hartwick College in a thrilling five-set championship match and the Continentals captured the Hartwick/Holiday Inn Invitational title at Lambros Arena on Oct. 15.
Hamilton (13-10 overall) breezed to a three-set victory against Utica College early Saturday afternoon to set up the championship match with Hartwick. The Continentals bested the Hawks in three easy sets on Friday night, but Saturday's final was much more competitive. Ally Martella '13 and Meredith Nuber '14 were selected to the all-tournament team.
Hartwick (12-16) won the first set 25-16, but Hamilton responded with 25-10 and 25-21 victories in the next two sets. The Hawks then edged the Continentals 27-25 to force a deciding fifth set, which Hamilton won 15-9.
Ava Kelley '15 led the Continentals with a season-high 15 kills. Megan McCareins '14 chipped in 10 kills and a team-high 26 digs. Erin Casey '15 contributed seven kills and five blocks.
Sarah Pfund '14 was credited with 24 assists and 11 digs, and Cecelie Pikus '13 passed out 14 assists. Anna Brown '15 served four aces and came up with 15 digs, and Rachel Irizarry '12 added 10 digs. Martella and Nuber led the defense at the net with five and four blocks, respectively.
Against Utica (1-27), Hamilton cruised to an easy win by scores of 25-20, 25-17 and 25-2. Brown served for 22 straight points in the third set rout.
McCareins led the way with 10 kills and four blocks. Amanda Cohen '13 hammered seven kills, Nuber smacked six and Kelley pounded five. Pikus ended up with 18 assists and Pfund had nine. Brown finished with a team-best four aces and seven digs, while Emily Rosen '15 boasted two aces and a team-high nine digs.
Irizarry served three aces and Casey recorded two blocks. Martella contributed three aces and a team-high six blocks, and Nuber had three blocks.
Hamilton hosts four other teams for the Continental Classic on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21 and 22.
