Box Score DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Corsairs used a well-balanced attack, led by nine kills from Kayla Kirby (Westport, Mass.) and 24 assists from Christina Spinazola (Medway, Mass.) as UMass Dartmouth prevailed 3-0 over Suffolk on Senior Day.
The Basics
Score: UMass Dartmouth 3, Suffolk 0
Records: UMass Dartmouth (10-17) | Suffolk (10-14)
How it Happened
UMass Dartmouth found a tempo early, earning four kills on seven attempts from freshman Nicole Silverman (Chelmsford, Mass.) to wrap up a 25-13 win in the first set. The Corsairs commanded the service game, with Jordan Rittberger (Huntington, N.Y.) firing three of her team's five service aces within just four points.
Neither team could string much together on the attack in the second set, but again UMass Dartmouth took advantage of Suffolk's seven errors to just six kills. The hosts wrapped up the last four points of the 25-15 decision, including two more Rittberger aces before Kirby completed the kill on Giulia Leite's (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) serve for the final point.
Suffolk generated its best performance of the evening in the third set, posting seven kills including four by sophomore Chidera Nwankwo (Canton, Mass.). The Corsairs battled back-and-forth points until Spinazola took the serve with the 19-16 lead to hold off the visitors for good. Sophomore Olivia Wallett (Willington, Conn.) ended two potential Ram rallies with kills, and Kirby shut the door, tallying all of UMass Dartmouth's final three points with two from Spinazola sets.
Inside the Numbers
- Kirby capped her Senior Day with a season-high total of nine kills on a match-high .315 attack percentage.
- Spinazola added 11 digs and a pair of service aces, as well as a season-high three kills.
- Rittberger's seven total service aces marked a new career-high, as UMass Dartmouth finished with 12 on the night.
- Silverman also generated a career night, with a new high of eight kills.
- Six Corsairs tallied at least two kills on the match as UMass Dartmouth nearly doubled up Suffolk, notching 31 kills to the Rams' 17.
Up Next
Both teams complete the regular season on Saturday, as UMass Dartmouth wraps up 2016 at Plymouth State, facing the Panthers at 12 p.m. and Salem State at 2 p.m. Suffolk will play two GNAC opponents in Simmons and St. Joseph (Conn.).
