Jessica Mundo and Rachel Barfield go up for a block.

The NOVA women’s volleyball team played its first home match of the year on Sept. 16, at Annandale’s Ernst Gym and defeated a tenacious Cecil College Seahawks team, three games to zero.

The first game proved the easiest for NOVA. With the score tied 3-3, NOVA streaked out to an 8-3 lead and led the rest of the game. A spike and a block at the net by NOVA’s Elisavet Loukaidou helped NOVA to a 13-10 lead, and later a bad Cecil serve followed by two good serves by NOVA’s Zoie Seay, gave NOVA an 18-13 lead. NOVA led 23-18 when an ace by Loukaidou and a block at the net by Rachel Barfield gave them the game-winning score 25-18, the largest margin of the game.

The second game proved to be a closer affair. NOVA started out with 4-0 and 7-3 leads, but Cecil stormed back to a 12-12 tie and then took its first lead of the match with 15-14 on two NOVA errors. Spikes by Seay and Nikelle Willis gave the lead back to NOVA with 16-15., Then NOVA stretched its lead to 21-15.

A spike by NOVA’s Jessica Mundo gave them a 23-18 lead, but a bad NOVA serve and several errors left the score tied at 23-23.

Later, a disastrous bad serve by Cecil and a block at the net by Loukaidou gave the game to NOVA with the score being 25-23.

The third game proved to be yet another close one. NOVA took an early 3-0 lead, but Cecil came back to take its second lead of the match, 8-7. NOVA rallied to take a 12-8 lead and two straight Cecil errors later gave them a 17-11 lead.

From there, the points went back and forth until NOVA had match point at 24-20 on a Mundo spike. Cecil fought back with two straight points but then a Cecil error gave the game and match to NOVA, 25-22.

Coach Robinson acknowledged NOVA’s hard work in winning the match and mentioned that they are now above .500 for the year at 5-4. They have also won five of their last six matches.

For Cecil College, located near Annapolis, this was only its third match of the season. It now stands 0-3, which is its best showing of the year.

By: Arch Scurlock

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