Volleyball Splits a Pair at UAA Round Robin #2

Oct. 14 - (CHICAGO, Ill.) – Carnegie Mellon's volleyball competed at the first day of the University Athletic Association (UAA) Round Robin #2, splitting a pair of matches, Saturday, October 14. The round robin was held at the University of Chicago. The Tartans record moves to 13-10 overall and 3-2 in UAA action.

The Tartans began the round robin tournament Saturday facing the 15th ranked New York University Violets and dropped a 3-1 (30-24, 25-30, 30-27, 30-26) decision.

Senior middle hitter Malena Yablinsky (Patton, Pa./Cambria Heights) led the squad with nine kills, while three other senior Tartans recorded eight apiece; right side Catie Fisher (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield), outside hitter Amanda Bradford (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) and outside hitter Becky Metler (McLean, Va./Kent Place (N.J.)).

Once again the Tartans had a solid defensive performance against a ranked opponent. Senior libero Kat Fox (Oklahoma City, Okla./Casady) had 26 digs and Bradford had 24. Yablinsky had a strong showing at the net having seven block assists in conjunction with Bradford's four.

Senior setter Brea Carlock (Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day) led the Tartans with 18 assists, as freshman setter Samantha Carter (San Antonio, Texas/O'Connor) recorded 17 assists and four service aces.

"We had the right game plan," Head Coach Kim Kelly said. "We just needed to be more consistent with it."

After falling to NYU, the Tartans came out strong in their second match of the day and swept Case Western Reserve 3-0 (30-26, 30-22, 30-27).

The Tartans were highlighted by Bradford's 11 kills, 14 digs, three block assists and three service aces. Fisher had eight kills, while Yablinsky and Megan Killeen (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) each had seven. Fox led the defense once again with 15 digs and Carlock and Carter had 19 and 14 assists, respectively.

The Tartans will be back in action Sunday in the second day of the round robin. They will play the second-ranked team in the nation Washington (Mo.) University at 9:00 a.m. before taking on the host school, the University of Chicago, at 11:30 a.m.