GORHAM, Maine – It was a victorious day for the UMass Dartmouth volleyball team, which posted victories over the University of Southern Maine, 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-15) and Emmanuel College, 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-19) on Saturday at Hill Gymnasium. The victory moves the Corsairs to 13-5 overall and 1-0 in LEC play.
In the win over the homestanding Huskies, senior outside hitter
Kate Wade posted a match-best 12 kills with just two errors on 26 swings for a .385 percentage. She added two block assists with two digs. Rookie right side
Olivia Seutter had seven kills with a dig and a block assist, while sophomore outside hitter
Ella Soutter posted six kills and no errors on 10 swings for a .600 percentage. Sophomore setter
Skye Peters had 15 assists, while junior defensive specialist
Emily Pogorelec posted 11 digs.
After a solid opening set win, the Corsairs continued to capitalize on the momentum with an 8-2 to start the second, including back-to-back kills from Wade. The visitors continued to roll, taking advantage on numerous attacking errors by the Huskies to own a 19-8 score. Southern Maine bounced back, pulling the margin to 23-14 on a kill from Madison Zimmer and a Drew Johnson ace, but strikes from Soutter and junior setter
Sabrina Bordone closed out the set win.
In the third set, the Huskies battled back, taking a 6-3 lead before three straight points, including an ace by Wade, pushed the Corsairs ahead 8-7. UMass Dartmouth continued to build its advantage, opening a 14-9 margin. Leading 21-12, the Corsairs allowed three points for the Huskies but countered with four straight to take the match victory.
Against Emmanuel, Seutter boasted a match-high 16 kills with just two errors on 33 swings for a .424 percentage. Wade dropped in 11 kills with three service aces and five digs, while senior opposite
Chelsea Sanker had nine kills and no errors on 16 swings for a .563 percentage. Pogorelec posted 18 digs and an ace, while Peters had 25 assists and 10 digs.
Following another solid opening victory in the first set, the Corsairs found themselves up 9-2, but the Saints countered with a 4-1 run that closed the gap to 18-14 on a kill from Amber Hong. The Corsairs later grabbed a 23-18 lead on a kill from Seutter, but the Saints once again battled back. A kill from Fran Ramos Rodriguez and an attacking error by UMassD made it a 23-20 lead, but Seutter and Wade each laid down kills to close out the frame.
The score remained close in the final set with UMassD holding a 9-8 lead. Five straight points ensued, including two kills and two aces from Wade, opening a 14-8 margin. The Saints countered, closing the gap to 15-14, but the Corsairs continued to press. Sanker and sophomore outside hitter
Allison Pate laid down kills to end the match.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Wednesday, traveling to UMass Boston for an LEC match-up at 6pm.
