Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 DANBURY, Conn. – Western Connecticut State University and the College of New Rochelle defeated the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth volleyball team in a tri-match on Saturday afternoon at the Feldman Arena.
Western Connecticut overpowered UMass Dartmouth in straight sets, 20-25, 10-25 and 20-25 in the opening day of Little East Conference play. In match two of the day; New Rochelle took the final two sets to capture a 3-1 victory over the Corsairs, 25-10, 21-25, 25-11 and 25-17.
The Corsairs concluded the day with an overall record of 4-7 and 0-1 in the conference. The Colonials finished 12-3 and 1-0 in the LEC, while New Rochelle split on the day to move their season record to 10-4.
UMass Dartmouth 0 Western Connecticut 3
In the opening set, Western Connecticut produced 11 kills to edge out the visitors, 25-20. UMass Dartmouth could not get its offense going in the second game, falling 25-10 and in the final set; the home team mimicked Game 1 as the Colonials took a 25-20 win in the deciding game.
Karissa Smith led the Colonial's offensive attack with ten kills, while teammate Brittan Steel logged nine smashes of her own. Smith also contributed five assists and eight digs. Nina Wojtkiewicz and Shirley Rodrigue had strong performances in the Western Connecticut backline, each recording 17 digs a piece. Danielle Kaminsky and Jennifer Hogan compiled 15 and 11 assists, respectively.
Junior Brianna Perry (New Bedford, Mass.), who currently leads the conference in digs per set (7.65), registered a game-high 29 digs to go with a pair of service aces for the Corsairs. Sophomore Christina Spinazola (Medway, Mass.) handed out 14 assists and junior Eliza Bowes (West Yarmouth, Mass.) led the Corsairs with five kills.
New Rochelle 3 UMass Dartmouth 1
New Rochelle committed just one error in game one, taking the opening set 25-10. The Corsairs rallied in the following set, registering 10 kills to edge out the Blue Angles, 25-21. With the match tied at one game apiece, New Rochelle held the UMass Dartmouth in check, winning by an average of 11 points in the final two sets.
The Blue Angles had six players reach double-digit in digs, with Fabiola Padilla Rios leading the line with 21. Padilla Rios also added a team-high 10 kills to go with a pair of service aces. Meghan King and Marissa Armstrong each piled up seven kills, while Melanie Lopez Soto distributed the ball for New Rochelle, handing out 20 assists.
Bowes generated a well-rounded effort as she recorded a trio of service aces, seven kills and eight digs for the Corsairs. Perry continued her strong play at the libero position; registering 28 digs in the game and junior Jasmine Burris (New Bedford, Mass.) added 17 digs and seven kills.
UMass Dartmouth is back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 23, as the Corsairs travel to Pine Manor for a 7 pm match.
