DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Powered by a balanced team performance, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth women's volleyball team came away with a dominant, 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-13) win over conference opponent Southern Maine on Saturday. The Corsairs improve to 9-6 overall and just secured a win in their first LEC matchup. The Huskies dip to 4-10 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
The Corsairs, who have been rolling of late, set the tone early in the opening set. Senior
Devon Laing took over the serve with an 11-8 lead, and headed a nine-point run including four service aces to stretch the lead to 12. Junior
Kate Wade punctuated the first set with back-to-back kills as the Corsairs claimed the first set, 25-11.
UMass Dartmouth carried their momentum into the second set, jumping out to an 11-4 lead once again. The Corsairs extended their lead to 21-11 before a Southern Maine run closed the gap to just six. It was too little, too late however, as the Corsairs scored their four remaining points and went into the third set up 2-0.
The UMD attack showed no intentions of slowing down in the third set, wanting to close the deal in three. The Corsairs once again jumped to an early lead, 8-2. The Huskies, attempting to fight their way back into it, was able to narrow the lead to 16-10, before the Corsairs put the game on ice with another 5-point run with senior
Maggie Sullivan serving. Junior
Monika Kristjansdottir recorded the final kill to put away the Huskies, 25-13 in the final set.
UMass Dartmouth looked dominant in their first conference match of the season. Wade led the attack with 11 kills on 20 attempts. Laing added eight kills of her own, along with five total aces. Laing was also the team runner-up in digs with nine. Sophomore
Sabrina Bordone put in a large margin of the work from the setter position, leading the contest with 15 set assists. Sophomore
Brooke Wittmer showed her strength defensively, leading the team with 15 digs.
Southern Maine freshman Cassidy Weiher shined for the Huskies with 23 set assists. She also recorded an ace and six digs.
The UMass Dartmouth women's volleyball team will stay put as they await their second LEC battle of the season. The Beacons from UMass Boston will arrive at the Tripp Center on Wednesday, October 4 for a 7PM meeting with the Corsairs.
