CLINTON, N.Y. – Just over 16 hours removed from clinching the top seed in the upcoming NESCAC Tournament, the No. 15 ranked Wesleyan volleyball team made team history in Saturday's three-set sweep of Hamilton. With the win, the Cardinals (19-1) finished the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record in NESCAC play for the first time in program history.
The Cardinals now shift their focus to the postseason where they will face the winner of the #8 Amherst vs. #9 Conn. College matchup in the NESCAC Quarterfinal round on Sunday at 2 PM from Silloway Gymnasium.
Despite the quick turnaround coming off an epic five-set win at Middlebury on Friday night and the 3+ hour overnight bus ride to Clinton, the Cardinals managed to pull together for a resounding 3-0 win (25-20, 25-16, 25-21) to complete the 10-0 NESCAC regular season.
The opening set saw the Cardinals score three unanswered points in the early stages before a 5-1 run saw Wesleyan take a 12-8 lead. After the Continentals closed to within two points, a 4-0 run on the
Ali Landa '26 serve made it 17-11 Cardinals. The two sides traded points before Hamilton made a last-gasp rally bid, using a 4-0 run to close the deficit to 23-20, but kills from
Mariko Tanaka '24 and
Michelle Jorba '25 capped a 25-20 set win.
Hamilton was the better side in the early going of the second set, leading 6-3 early before the Cardinals used an 8-3 run to take their first lead of the set at 8-7. It was 13-12 Cardinals before a crucial 6-1 run, highlighted by three
Kate Long '24 kills, pushed Wesleyan out in front by six. Another 4-0 run saw the Cardinals finish off the set in style with a 25-16 triumph.
The Continentals looked to have gained some traction in the third set, this time taking a 13-7 lead midway through the frame. Then the Cardinals answered right back with a 6-1 run, leaning on
Kathryn Morton '24 who had two blocks and a kill in the run, as Wesleyan cut the deficit to just one point. Hamilton responded and led 18-16 before a 5-0 run of Morton's serve pushed Wesleyan out in front 21-18. The Continentals got to within one point of the lead twice in the remainder of the set, but saw the Cardinals score three unanswered to clinch the match with a 25-21 set win.
Wesleyan hit .214 as a team with 45 kills on 131 attempts while holding Hamilton to 32 kills and 22 errors for a .075 attack percentage. Jorba led the way with 11 kills on 22 attempts (.409) while adding four total blocks.
Sophia Lindus '26 had another double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs. Long totaled eight kills with two blocks. Morton finished with six kills and no errors with five total blocks and a career-high 11 digs.
Bianca Ortiz '24 was incredible throughout at the libero position, finishing with 26 digs which is the most for a Cardinal in a three-set match since Phia Bellizzi '21 recorded 34 in a sweep of Williams in the 2019 season.
The Cardinals open the NESCAC Tournament with the winner of the Amherst vs. Conn. College first round showdown, which will be played on Friday night. Wesleyan has advanced to the NESCAC Championship match in back-to-back seasons, losing to Tufts in 2022 and Bowdoin in 2021.
