Yale Volleyball Splits Weekend Matches Against Princeton, Penn

The Yale women’s volleyball team achieved a split in their weekend matches, securing a decisive victory against Princeton before narrowly losing to the University of Pennsylvania. The Bulldogs, with a current record of 10–8 overall and 6–4 in Ivy League play, swept Princeton 3-0 on Halloween, but fell to Penn 2-3 on Saturday, October 28, 2023.

Yale’s match against Princeton showcased their offensive strength. The Bulldogs overwhelmed the Tigers with set scores of 25-22, 25-14, and 25-14. The first set began with an impressive 4-0 scoring run, thanks to strong serving from Yuri Park ’29. As the set progressed, the teams exchanged points until Yale took control at 22-23.

In the second set, Park continued to shine, contributing a nine-point service run that propelled Yale to a commanding lead. The third set saw added contributions from Halle Sherlock ’26 and Mila Mijailovic ’28, who delivered critical service aces and defensive pressure, effectively shutting down Princeton’s offensive efforts. Ava Poinsett ’29 led the Bulldogs with 15 kills and nine digs, while Cam Bolane ’28 and Lauren Kellen ’26 recorded no hitting errors, achieving eight and six kills, respectively. Overall, Yale outperformed Princeton in kills, aces, blocks, assists, and digs.

The following day, Yale faced a tougher challenge against Penn in a hard-fought five-set match. After dropping the first set 22-25, the Bulldogs rallied back, winning the next two sets with scores of 25-19 and 25-19. They showcased a strong defensive performance in the third set, taking a 2-1 set lead. Despite their statistical dominance, Yale could not secure the victory, as Penn seized momentum in the fourth set and carried it into the decisive fifth set.

The Quakers began the final set with a 5-0 run, leaving Yale unable to mount an effective response. Nevertheless, key plays from Isabella Mendoza ’26 at the service line and Gigi Barr ’26 at the net brought the Bulldogs within striking distance. Poinsett tied her season-high with 24 kills and added 15 digs, while Laurece Abraham ’27 contributed 19 kills with a hitting percentage of .500. Bolane also made an impact with 13 kills, and five players recorded 10 or more digs against Penn’s offense.

Next weekend, the Bulldogs will close out their away schedule with matches against Harvard and Dartmouth. They will seek to improve their standings in the Ivy League as they approach the final stretch of the season.