Needing a win in the worst way, Bates College turned in its signature performance of the season Tuesday evening as the Bobcats battled back from a 2-0 deficit to take down visiting Saint Joseph’s College, 3-2, in a five-set marathon in Alumni Gym.
The victory, Bates’ first 3-2 triumph since last Oct. 16 at Trinity, snaps a six-game slide for the Bobcats (5-9). The Monks, with its third-straight setback, fall to 7-15 overall.
After falling just short (23-25, 20-25) in the opening two sets, Bates unleashed the fury with runaway victories of 25-16 and 25-19 in the subsequent two frames. The stage was now set for any epic fifth-and-final stanza that saw the home team finally silence the Monks,19-17, and put an end to the 2:17 thriller.
The Bobcats’ box score was loaded with highlights, starting with Emma Eide who recorded season-bests of 36 assists and eight kills in the win. The Ramsey, N.J. native also gathered 13 digs to secure the junior her third double-double of the season.
Katie Kortekaas (So.-Manhattan Beach, Calif.) topped all players with 12 kills in the win. The first-year tandem from Honolulu, Hawaii, Ellie Asada and Ami Evans, controlled 21 and 20 digs, respectively, for the Bobcats.
Julia Neumann (Norwell, Mass.) added eight kills. Kate Ares (Fy.-Milton, Ga.) followed with seven kills while Amanda Power (Fy.-Scottsdale, Ariz.) floored six kills of her own.
Bates next plays this Friday evening with a visit to NESCAC rival Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. Start time is set for 7:00 p.m.
Original source can be found here
