Box Score DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth captured the opening set, but the University of Massachusetts Boston stormed back to take the final three frames to earn a 3-1 Little East Conference victory this evening at the Tripp Athletic Center.
Junior Jasmine Burris (New Bedford, Mass.) led the Corsair (9-12, 0-4) offensive attack with nine kills, while sophomore Christina Spinazola (Medway, Mass.) handed out 17 assists. Junior Brianna Perry (Acushnet, Mass.) recorded 21 digs and classmate Carina Filosa (Milford, Mass.) tallied 11.
Sophomore Julia Murphy (Canton, Mass.) powered the Beacons (17-7, 4-0) with a double-double consisting of a game-high 19 kills and 13 digs, while producing a .485 hitting percentage. Freshman Jillian Brown (Oak Park, Calif.) organized the visitors' set with a game-high 36 assists along with seven service aces. Sophomore Elizabeth Glavan (Edina, Minn.) accounted for a team-high 14 digs and six assists.
Junior Katie McEachern (Wrentham, Mass.) punctuated an early 8-2 run to push the hosts' advantage to 8-4. UMass Dartmouth continued to apply the pressure as junior Eliza Bowes (West Yarmouth, Mass.) spiked back-to-back winners, stretching the Corsair lead to 17-10 and forced an UMass Boston timeout. The Beacons were able to regroup and string together a 13-5 run, prompting the hosts to utilize their final timeout while trailing 23-22. UMass Dartmouth was able to withstand the visitors' surge by scoring the final three points of the frame to win the set 25-23.
The second stanza was shaping up to be a carbon copy of the first, as the Corsairs used another 8-2 run to gain an early 8-3 lead, their largest of the set. UMass Boston responded quickly to forge a 9-all tie. The two teams exchanged points until the hosts snapped a 15-15 tie with three consecutive points, capped by a kill from McEachern. Following a timeout, the Beacons swung the momentum with a decisive 10-3 run to close out the set at 25-21.
UMass Boston sustained the momentum for the remainder of the match, outscoring its host 50-27 over the final two sets.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action on Oct. 18, when the Corsairs travel to Salem State for a tri-match. UMass Dartmouth will face both the host Vikings and MCLA. UMass Boston is idle until Oct. 21, when the Beacons host Little East rival Eastern Connecticut State University.
