CLINTON, N.Y. – Hamilton College's Elodie McGeiver '27 hammered 17 kills and the Continentals rallied from behind for a five-set marathon win (15-25, 16-25, 26-24, 25-23, 23-21) against the Bowdoin College Polar Bears in a NESCAC match at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Saturday, Oct. 5. 
 

Season Update

• Hamilton (4-8, 1-4 NESCAC) picked up its first conference win of the season. 
• Bowdoin (8-5, 1-3) hasn't been swept in any of its five losses.  

How It Happened

• Tied at 5-5 in the deciding set, Bowdoin seized four of the next five points for a 9-6 lead. With the match point at stake and trailing 14-12, Hamilton responded with three consecutive points, featuring two kills by McGeiver and a Bowdoin hitting error. After an intense back-and-forth affair and the score level at 21-21, the Continentals clinched the match victory on a pair of errors by the Polar Bears.
• The fifth set featured 10 ties and six lead changes. 
• The Polar Bears overcame a 3-2 deficit with a 7-1 run in the opening set. Bowdoin increased its lead to 15-7 and maintained its distance for the remainder of the set. 
• Bowdoin jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the second set and stayed in front by at least two points the rest of the way.   
• Hamilton struggled early in the third set, falling behind 6-2. The Continentals bounced back, scoring six of the next seven points for an 8-7 lead. Bowdoin was able to dig itself out of its deficit and established an 18-12 advantage. Hamilton roared back with a 6-0 run and pulled ahead at 21-19. With the score tied at 24-24, a kill by McGeiver and a Bowdoin error clinched the set for Hamilton.
• Hamilton pulled ahead with four consecutive points for a 9-6 lead in the fourth set. Kills by Claire Cooper '26 and McGeiver, along with two errors by Bowdoin, extended the Continentals' advantage to 15-9. Hamilton maintained its momentum, leading by as much as nine points at 19-10 after a service error by the Polar Bears, two kills by Ayzlinn Trefren '28 and key blocks by Allie Steel '28 and Caitlin Allen '27. Bowdoin fought back with a 6-0 run and narrowed the gap to 22-20. Hamilton had a chance to clinch the set at 24-20, but Bowdoin responded with three consecutive kills and pulled within 24-23. The Continentals ultimately pushed the match to a fifth set with another kill by McGeiver.
• Hamilton registered 17 blocks, the most in one match since the Continentals had 18 on Sept. 30, 2023. 

Notes

• Hamilton defeated Bowdoin for the first time since 2001. 
• McGeiver produced a double-double with the 17 kills and a career-high 16 digs. She also added a career-best six blocks. 
• Stimson gathered 16 kills and is second in the NESCAC with a .358 hitting percentage. She stuffed a career-best eight blocks and had two service aces. 
• Pati Cerda '26 notched 37 assists and a season-high 12 digs. 
• Cooper finished with seven assists, four kills and a career-high two blocks. 
• Mia Jessen '28 contributed a season-best 22 digs and six assists.
• Trefren recorded her first double-double with 10 kills and 20 digs. She registered a season-high three service aces. 
• Liza Beigel '28 chipped in a season-high 14 digs. 
• Skye LaMendola led Bowdoin with 18 kills, 19 digs and two service aces. 
• Alison Smith finished with 15 kills and a team-high three blocks. 
• Maya White came up with a team-best 32 digs. 
• Paige Butler led Bowdoin with 28 assists
• Shelly Cameron dished out 27 assists and contributed 15 digs and a pair of service aces. 

Next Match

Hamilton travels to Middletown, Conn., for another NESCAC matchup at Wesleyan University (9-5, 3-1 NESCAC) on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.