BABSON PARK, Mass. – The UMass Dartmouth volleyball team posted a split on day one of action at the New England Volleyball Classic, hosted on Friday at Babson College. The Corsairs shouldered a tough 3-1 loss to the homestanding Beavers, but posted a 3-1 victory over previously undefeated Union College in match two.
 
In the victory over the Dutchwomen, the Corsairs saw senior outside hitter and captain Allison Pate record a single-game career high 21 kills. She added an assist, two service aces and 11 digs. Classmate, setter and fellow captain Skye Peters notched 45 assists with three service aces and 11 digs, while junior opposite Olivia Seutter finished with 11 kills, an assist, an ace, two block solo and two block assists with three digs.
 
Senior middle blocker Maddie Carter added 10 kills with two block assists, while rookie defensive specialist Brooke Harrington led the way with 18 digs as well as four assists, and two service aces.
 
UMass Dartmouth shouldered a tough 25-20 loss in the opening set, but countered in set two as kills from Carter and Pate pushed the margin to 12-6 on the scoreboard. The Dutchwomen tied the score at 20-all, but a timely kill from senior middle blocker Ella Soutter, coupled with a kill from Seutter and rookie outside hitter Norah Schweitzer made it a 23-22 score. Union tied once again, but Pate and Seutter sealed the set win to tie things up.
 
In the third set, a kill from Pate with an ace from Peters made it a 12-7 score. The Corsairs went on to utilize a 6-0 run to open a 19-10 margin, while posting five of the final six points – including a pair of kills from Pate – saw UMD take the 2-1 advantage.
 
Final set action saw a service ace from sophomore McKenna Highlander made it a 10-5 advantage. Union continued to battle back, pulling to within one (19-18) but kills from Carter and Pate, coupled with errors by the Dutchwomen gave the Corsairs the victory.
 
In the day's first match against Babson, Pate led the way with 10 kills, an assist and 11 digs. Carter added two kills with six blocks assists, while sophomore outside hitter Ashley Serverius had a kill with six digs. Seutter finished with eight kills, three block assists and seven digs. Peters posted 26 assists to go along with 10 digs and three kills, while Harrington had an assist, an ace and 18 digs.
 
The Corsairs return to action on Saturday for day two of the Classic, hosted at Brandeis University. UMD will face Endicott at 12:30pm, followed by a 3pm match against the host Judges.