PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Amherst volleyball team Friday swept Taconic to snap the Thunder’s five-match winning streak.

 

Janayah Jones recorded five kills and a block, and Ella Stodden passed out five assists for Taconic in the 25-19, 25-9, 25-15 loss.

 

Natalia Dos Santos anchored Taconic’s defense with 15 digs on a night that had Thunder coach Lance Fyfe thinking about a built-in inequity in the commonwealth’s high school sports structure.

 

“Amherst played really well tonight and we just couldn't get much going in our favor,” Fyfe said. “They have a really good volleyball program and are able to have a seventh and eighth grade team. This is a huge advantage for their kids and I'm happy for them.

 

“I'm also very disappointed that not all schools are able to give their kids this same opportunity.  This may not be the place or time for me to protest or discuss this, but how does it make sense that only schools with seventh and eighth grade, middle schools, on the same property or same building, are allowed to work with seventh and eighth graders? Why are Pittsfield and kids from many other schools being prevented from this benefit? Not everyone can afford to play club/travel volleyball. School sports are free and should be equally available to all children.”

 

Taconic (10-5) hosts Ware on Tuesday.