The women’s volleyball team from Yale University faced a challenging weekend, securing a decisive victory against Princeton University on October 28, 2023, but falling short in a closely contested match against the University of Pennsylvania the following day. The Bulldogs now hold a record of 10–8 overall and 6–4 in the Ivy League.
Yale showcased their prowess during the match against Princeton, winning in straight sets with scores of 25-22, 25-14, and 25-14. The Bulldogs established an early lead in the first set, powered by a strong performance from Yuri Park, who served effectively and contributed to a 4–0 scoring run. The teams exchanged points until Yale pulled ahead with a crucial point at 22-23.
In the second set, Park continued her impressive play, executing a nine-point service run that helped Yale dominate the set. The third set saw strong contributions from Halle Sherlock and Mila Mijailovic, who added service aces and defensive pressure, effectively stifling Princeton’s offense.
Leading the Bulldogs’ attack, Ava Poinsett recorded 15 kills and nine digs, while teammates Cam Bolane and Lauren Kellen added eight and six kills, respectively, without any hitting errors. Overall, Yale outperformed Princeton in kills, aces, blocks, assists, and digs, with Park contributing four of Yale’s nine service aces.
The following day, the Bulldogs faced a tougher opponent in Penn, resulting in a hard-fought five-set match that ended with scores of 22-25, 25-19, 25-19, 19-25, and 11-15. After losing the first set, Yale bounced back with a commanding performance, taking both the second and third sets. However, they could not maintain the momentum, allowing Penn to rally in the fourth set.
Despite leading in every statistical category, Yale found themselves unable to respond effectively when Penn surged ahead at the start of the fifth set, establishing a 5–0 run. Key contributions from Isabella Mendoza on service and Gigi Barr at the net brought Yale within two points, but it was not enough to secure the win.
Poinsett tied her season-high with 24 kills and recorded 15 digs against Penn. Laurece Abraham also had a standout performance, contributing 19 kills with a hitting percentage of 0.500, while Bolane added 13 kills. Five Yale players achieved double-digit digs in a solid defensive effort against the Quakers.
Looking ahead, the Bulldogs will conclude their away matches next weekend with games against Harvard University and Dartmouth College on November 4 and 5, 2023, respectively. The team aims to build on their performance and secure crucial wins as they approach the conclusion of the season.
