DANBURY, Conn. – Backed by a solid .432 hitting percentage, the UMass Dartmouth volleyball team posted a 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-14) win at Western Connecticut State University on Saturday. The victory moves the Corsairs to 3-0 in the Little East standings and 10-6 overall, while the Wolves are now 1-3 in the LEC and 3-14 overall.
 
The Corsairs faced an early deficit in the opening set of action, trailing by a 7-1 margin following three straight aces from sophomore outside hitter Sophia Siruchek and a pair of kills from senior outside hitter Julia Stoliker. Back-to-back kills from junior opposite Olivia Seutter started a comeback as UMass Dartmouth worked its way back in – tying the match at 11-all on a strike from senior middle blocker Ella Soutter.
 
Behind a pair of aces from senior setter and captain Skye Peters, the Corsairs laid down five more points to open a 16-11 advantage. The Wolves got a point back, but nine straight points – including two aces from senior outside hitter and captain Allison Pate, along with a pair of kills from rookie hitter Norah Schweitzer – saw the Corsairs take the opening set.
 
The set – which saw the Corsairs go on a 24-5 run after their initial deficit – was led by four kills each from Seutter and Pate, who also added five digs and two aces.
 
Second set action saw a déjà vu moment for the Corsairs as the Wolves opened up a 3-1 margin before a kill from Ella Soutter put the visitors on the board. UMD then went on a 8-0 run, regaining the lead behind a pair of service aces from Soutter and four kills from Seutter.
 
Holding a 15-11 lead, the Corsairs went on a 3-1 run, taking advantage of multiple Wolves' errors to make it an 18-12 set score. The Wolves posted a 3-0 run late, but UMass Dartmouth continued to capitalize on multiple errors by WestConn for the 25-17 second set win.
 
Third set action saw the Corsairs open a 9-5 advantage early – backed by a pair of kills from Pate. UMass Dartmouth capitalized again on several errors, balanced by a kill from Seutter – her 14th of the match – to take a 15-7 lead. The visitors used another 6-0 run – with two aces from Seutter and kill from senior middle blocker Maddie Carter – to take a 21-8 advantage.
 
WestConn battled back, earning four straight points, but an ace from sophomore outside hitter McKenna Highlander – coupled with a kill from classmate Lauren Powers – saw the Corsairs take the match victory with a 25-14 set three win.
 
The Corsairs compiled 75 points on the afternoon, recording 43 kills with five errors on 88 total attacks for a .432 team hitting percentage. Seutter led the way with 14 kills and just one error on 22 swings for an impressive .591 hitting percentage. She added a pair of aces with two digs on the day.
 
Schweitzer notched 10 kills with just one error on 17 attacks for a .529 hitting percentage, adding two digs. Pate recorded seven kills and two aces, adding a match-high 14 digs and a block assist. Carter notched six kills with a match-high three block solo and a block assist, while Peters recorded 34 assists with two aces and three digs.
 
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Southern Maine for a 1pm conference match-up against the Huskies. That game was rescheduled from September 26 due to the Nor'Easter. The Corsairs will then return home to celebrate their senior class on October 17, taking on Vermont State University Castleton at 11am in Tripp Gym.