UMass Dartmouth Defeats Keene State for First Time in 17 Years

KEENE, N.H. - Freshman Kate Wade and sophomore Devon Laing each recorded double-doubles in the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 3-1 (25-23, 16-25, 25-19, 25-21) victory over Keene State Saturday afternoon at Spaulding Gymnasium. It was the first win for UMassD against the Owls since 2004, and the Corsairs fifth victory in a row.

The Corsairs improve to 8-6 and 3-1 in the Little East Conference, which slots them in second place in the LEC standings. The Owls drop to 11-8 and 2-2 in the conference.

Wade finished with 12 kills and 15 digs, while adding three blocks and two aces. Laing registered 10 kills and 17 digs. Freshman Zoe Dizenzo also had a double-double with 40 assists and 13 digs. 

A 6-0 run with kills by Laing and Wade jump started the Corsairs to a 15-7 lead that was capped off with a kill by Monika Kristjansdottir. Keene State got right back into it with a 10-4 run to close its gap to 19-17, and eventually took a 23-22 advantage. Kills by Wade and Dizenzo boosted UMassD to a 25-23 set one win.

Keene State won the second set, 25-16. After the Corsairs took a 10-8 lead, Keene State closed the set on a 17-8 run to win the set and even the match.

UMass Dartmouth led wire-to-wire in the third set. Kristjansdottir's kill sparked a 12-5 lead and the Corsairs maintained the lead to take it, 25-19, and go ahead, 2-1 in the match.

The fourth set was back-and-forth, with Keene leading 9-8 in the early going. A 6-2 run put UMassD ahead 14-11 and the Corsairs held the lead for good after that. Kills by Wade, Laing and sophomore Gabriella Monico finished things off as the Corsairs capped off a historic win.

The Corsairs are back at the Tripp Athletic Center for a 7 p.m. match against UMass Boston on Wednesday.