NORTON, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth volleyball team dropped its season opener, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-22), Thursday night at Emerson Gymnasium on the campus of Wheaton in Norton, Mass. the Corsairs fall to 0-1, while the Lyons start 1-0. It was the season opener for both teams.
Junior middle hitter Maggie Sullivan led UMass Dartmouth with seven kills on a .385 hitting percentage in addition to three blocks, while junior outside hitter Devon Laing made just one attack miscue and put away six kills for a .333 attack clip.
The Corsairs held identical 22-20 leads in both the second and third sets, before the Lyons ripped off five straight points to end each set to earn the match victory.
UMass Dartmouth held an early 4-3 edge in the opening set, before Wheaton went on a 19-6 run to take a 22-10 advantage. The Corsairs countered with seven of the next nine points to pull to within 24-17, but the Lyons put down the final point of the session to give the home team a 1-0 match lead.
The Lyons jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the middle set, before Sullivan spiked for a pair of kills to lead a 5-1 spurt to pull UMassD even at 10-10. The Corsairs later took a 22-20 lead following six unanswered points, but Wheaton scored the final five points of the set to give the home team the winning point.
The Lyons started quickly in the third set as well, taking a six-point cushion at 12-6, behind three kills from Wingler. UMass Dartmouth sailed back with eight straight points on junior middle hitter Marley Alexander's serve, including a pair of aces from her, to take a 14-12 margin. The Corsairs maintained their lead at 22-20, before Wheaton closed out the evening with the last five points.
The Corsairs host Clark on Wednesday for the home opener at 6 p.m.
