Saints Come From Two Sets Down, Claim 3-2 Win vs. Vikings

BOSTON - After dropping the first two sets, the Emmanuel Saints came all the way back in Thursday’s match, earning a 3-2 victory over the Salem State Vikings thanks in part to a career-high 24 kills by senior Anna Caristi (North Attleboro, Mass.).

Saints Come From Two Sets Down, Claim 3-2 Win vs. Vikings
Program Video Box Score

Team Stats

October 7, 2021

 

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel 3 – Salem State 2 (19-25, 23-25, 25-14, 25-23, 20-18)

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (6-8, 1-3 GNAC)
Salem State University Vikings (3-12, 1-2 MASCAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. – Andy Yosinoff Court

Date: Thursday, October 7, 2021

THE LEAD – After dropping the first two sets, the Emmanuel Saints came all the way back in Thursday's match, earning a 3-2 victory over the Salem State Vikings thanks in part to a career-high 24 kills by senior Anna Caristi (North Attleboro, Mass.).

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • In the opening set, the Vikings used a combination of strong hitting and service aces to claim the set win. Salem State jumped out to a 10-3 advantage early in the set and maintained their distance through the 25-19 set win. The Vikings committed just one error, paired with five aces, to win the set.
  • The second set featured a strong offensive display by both teams, with the Vikings hitting .263 with 13 kills and the Saints hitting .324 with 15 kills. Salem State created enough breathing room late in the set as senior Miranda Quinlan (Billerica, Mass.) capped off a 25-23 set win for the Vikings.
  • In the third set, the Saints came out strong, thanks to Caristi igniting the Emmanuel offense. Caristi finished the set with eight of the Saints 16 team kills in the third, as Emmanuel cruised to a 25-14 set win.
  • In the fourth set, the Saints and Vikings battled through the set, eventually getting to 23-23 with the match in the balance. The Vikings would commit back-to-back errors, giving the set to Emmanuel 25-23, as the sides headed for a decisive fifth set.
  • In the deciding set, Salem State looked poised to take the win, leading 13-10, but the Saints battled back as extra scoring was needed in the final set. With the set tied 18-18, it was again back-to-back error that finished the match, as Emmanuel came back from two-sets down, taking the fifth set, 20-18.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • Caristi finished with a career-high 24 kills while hitting .320 from the floor. The 24 kills are the most in a match for any Saints player since Mary Shelow ('19) finished with 24 kills in a match on October 20, 2018.
  • Sophomore Seana Phillips (Middleboro, Mass.) and senior Caitlin Tannian (Reading, Mass.) finished with career-highs of 13 and 12 kills, respectively.
  • Junior Rachel Coleman (Peabody, Mass.) added a career-high 59 assists.
  • Vikings senior Genevieve Kempster (Hopedale, Mass.) led the team with 18 kills while hitting .259.
  • Sophomore Abigail O'Connor (Gilford, N.H.) added 12 kills on a .370 percentage.

UP NEXT

  • The Saints return to conference play with a Saturday tri-match with Johnson & Wales and the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), hosted by JWU, starting at 10:00 a.m.
  • The Vikings host a non-conference tri-match on Saturday, welcoming Curry and Lesley to Twohig Gymnasium. Matches are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively, for the Vikings.