VOLLEYBALL TEAM STRETCHES WIN STREAK TO NINE
Oct. 3, 2009
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Emmanuel Saints came home with a pair of wins on Saturday afternoon in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference tri-match played in Andrews Hall on the campus of Norwich University. The Saints picked up an easy three-set win over Pine Manor College in the opener and then edged the host Cadets in a five-set thriller nightcap. With the two victories, the Emmanuel squad stretched their current win streak to nine matches. The Saints are now 11-4 overall and unbeaten in first place at 6-0 in the GNAC. A split on the day, brought the Cadets to 11-6 on the season (2-3 GNAC). Pine Manor dropped to 1-12 overall (0-7 GNAC).
The Saints win over Pine Manor proved to be a quick one with set scores of 25-6, 25-14 and 25-12. Emmanuel totaled an incredible 21 service aces in the match, including 7 apiece from Stephanie O’Neill (Tyngsboro, Mass.) and Samantha Andazola (Queen Creek, Ariz.). Nicole McAllister’s (Hampden, Maine) 5 kills led the offense, while Andazola’s 5 digs led the defense. Team setter Kathryne Olsen (Fairhaven, Mass.) tallied 11 assists in her 12 setting attempts.
Emmanuel had to rally past Norwich in the fifth set to pick up a 25-15, 23-25, 25-21, 21-25, 16-14 win. The Saints trailed 11-4 in the fifth set before roaring back for the hard-fought victory. Emmanuel was led by sophomore Rebecca Stanton (Quincy, Mass.) who smacked down 15 kills and racked up 4 blocks. Sophomore Jenna Ross (Centerburg, Ohio), who has been named to the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll for the past two weeks, picked up another double-double with 14 digs, 11 kills and 2 aces. Andazola led the defnse with a match-high 21 digs, while Megan Clary (Cumberland, R.I.) added 14 digs in the win. Olsen finished with a match-high 40 assists, while McAllister totaled 8 kills and 6 blocks for the Saints.
Norwich’s Lisset Magdaleno led the way against the Saints, smashing 13 kills. Molly Rice added a double-double with 39 assists and 17 digs. Thea Evans chipped in nine kills, 21 digs and three service aces, while April Byllaardt added 12 kills and nine blocks. Sophomore Brittany Palmer (16 digs, 8 kills) and freshman MaryRose Meany pitched in five blocks.
The Cadets return to action on Wednesday, when they host Colby-Sawyer College in a non-conference match. First serve from Andrews Hall is scheduled for 7 p.m. Emmanuel play play on the road this Tuesday night at Suffolk University in a cross-town rivalry beginning at 7pm. The Saints will play host to Lesley University on Thursday night at 7pm in the Jean Yawkey Center.
Courtesy of Norwich University Sports Information