PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The UMass Dartmouth volleyball team shouldered a tough loss at Plymouth State University in Little East Conference action. The Panthers move to 19-6 overall and 6-1 in conference play, while the Corsairs – playing in their regular season finale – are now 20-7 with a 7-1 record in the LEC.
The homestanding Panthers opened the match with a 2-0 advantage, recording first and second set wins of 25-13 and 25-15. The Corsairs battled back in the third set, jumping out to a 7-2 lead behind a service ace from senior defensive specialist and captain,
Emily Pogorelec.
UMass Dartmouth continued to hold the lead, going on a 4-0 run with kills from junior outside hitter and captain
Allison Pate and rookie middle blocker
Aleek Kuot, for a 13-4 lead. A strike from sophomore opposite
Olivia Seutter sparked an 8-0 run that opened a 24-9 lead. Pate had two kills during the stretch, while Pogorelec added two aces. The Corsairs wrapped up the set victory on a kill from Seutter.
Fourth quarter action saw the Corsairs own a 7-4 lead, but an 8-0 run saw Plymouth State push ahead 12-7. A kill by Kuot and an attacking error helped UMD move the score to 20-18, but five out of the next six points went in favor of the home team to wrap up the match victory.
Pate finished with 13 kills and eight digs, while Seutter also had 13 kills with three digs and a block assist. Pogorelec posted a match-high 16 digs, including the 2,000th of her impressive collegiate career with two assists and three aces, while junior setter
Skye Peters had a match-high 32 assists with 10 digs and a kill.
UMass Dartmouth has a bye for the final week of the regular season and will return to action in the Little East Tournament. The Corsairs who have just one loss in conference action, secures a first round bye and will advance to the Semifinals on Thursday, November 13. Final seedings for the LEC Tournament will be determined following the conclusion of the regular season on November 8.
