(Photo Courtesy: Deanbulldogs.com)
FRANKLIN- Dean Women’s Volleyball would have to date back seven years to 2017 when they last won their first game of the season, beating Lesley 3-1 on the road. Seven years, six seasons later, the Bulldogs head back into the win column in game 1, as they take care of the Bay Path Wildcats Friday evening at home in four sets, inside Pieri Gymnasium.
In set one, both teams began their 2024 season on the court facing off with one another competitively. Ten points into the first, down 6-4, Dean started to slip further away in the score, eventually facing a 10-point, 24-14 trail. Dean wound up dropping set one by a final of 25-16.
Facing a minor 2-0 deficit right out of the gate in set two, from back-to-back Wildcat kills, Dean would quickly tie it up from two consecutive of their own. First by Olivia Mackinnon, followed up by Chloe Demaio, both these Dean kills would even the score at two apiece. Following the tie, Dean began to gain some wiggle room, forming a 6-3 lead. Soon after, the Wildcats capitalized on a handful of Dean attack errors, resulting in a tie at seven.
The Wildcats began feeding off some momentum of their own, going up by two, making the score 12-10. After, for a good portion of set two, Dean and Bay State University would continue exchanging back-and-forth leads, leading both schools to a 14-14 tie. Following this fifth tie of the set, Dean regained control, eventually closing set two with a 25-18 win.
Sets three and four were all Bulldogs. Whether it was the beginning, middle, or end of the frame, Dean's resilience and dominance had been shining bright when it mattered most, not to forget some spectacular offensive saves/executions by Skylar Raskevitz and her teammates alongside. At last, Dean would take sets 3 and 4 by the scores of 25-13 and 25-19, handing them their first victory of the 2024 season.
After the game, Coach Mark Ledwich spoke about how the bench tonight and possibly all season could make a big impact on the game and the potential success Dean could encounter.
According to Coach Ledwich, additionally he expects to see a "big future here” to come.
Dean will remain home to take on Suffolk University in game two of this young season, on Wednesday, September 4th at 7:00 pm.
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