VOLLEYBALL TEAM SPLITS IN GNAC TRI-MATCH
Oct. 17, 2009
Newton, Mass.— The Emmanuel Saints split in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference tri-match hosted by Lasell College on Saturday afternoon. Johnson & Wales University handed the Saints their first GNAC loss of the season in a 5-set heartbreaker. The Saints gave up a 2-set advantage to the Wildcats and dropped the match, 3-2. The Saints knocked off Lasell College in an easy three-set win, improving to 8-1 in the league. JWU swept the tri-match, going home with a 7-1 conference record. Lasell dropped both matches to the tough conference rivals, ending the day with a 3-4 conference mark.
In the first match of the day, the Lasers were able to take one game from the visiting Wildcats. Lasell fought hard in a close 26-24 first set, and a 25-23 second set, but was unable to close the gap to steal away with the games. The third game, however, Lasell was able to run away with a 25-16 victory before the Wildcats came back with a 25-19 final set.
The Lasers had some great performances through the match, including a double-double from setter Meghan Crozier (Ballston Spa, NY) who pushed out 36 assists and added 10 digs for the contest. Middle attacker Danielle Drapeau (Biddeford, ME) secured 15 kills in the contest, with Eileen Barrett (Ludlow, Mass.) and Elizabeth Nichols (Southington, Conn.) dropping in 12 and 11 more each, respectively.
Lauren Short (Scarsdale, NY) earned a team-best 25 digs in the contest, and Melanie Costa (Ludlow, Mass.) was right behind her with 22. Senior, captain Amanda Major (Southbury, Conn.) picked up 16 more attacked balls for the Lasers’ defense.
Johnson & Wales stole off with the second match of the day as well in five sets. After dropping the first two sets to Emmanuel, who was previously undefeated in GNAC play, the Wildcats retaliated with a three game victory to sweep the tri-match for the day. The Saints won the first two games in close sets, 27-25 and 25-23, but Johnson & Wales came from behind to win 25-16, 25-20, and 15-6.
The Saints were led by Rebecca Stanton’s (Quincy, Mass.) 13 kills. Classmate Jenna Ross (Centerburg, Ohio) added 7 kills and 23 digs. Rookie Samantha Andazola (Queen Creek, Ariz.) tallied a team-high 24 digs, while sophomore Kathryne Olsen (Fairhaven, Mass.) handed out 32 assists in the effort.
Emmanuel College bounced back to take match number three from Lasell in three sets. The Saints cruised to the three-set sweep with scores of 25-14, 25-19, and 25-21. The Saints got another 13 kills from Stanton, while junior outside hitter Megan Murray (Killingworth, Conn.) recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 kills and 14 digs. Six Emmanuel players tallied double-figures in digs, led by Andazola with 19 in the match. Olsen dished out 38 assists in the win.
Four Lasers hit double-figures in the digs column. Major produced a Laser-best of 16 digs in the match, while Barrett also picked up 14. Costa and Short each added ten a piece. Drapeau led on offense again this match, blasting eight attacks to the Saints court. In addition to the kills, Drapeau dominated with three solo and one assisted blocks. Crozier fed 17 assists in the contest to the attackers, combining with seven digs on the defensive end.
The Lasers (7-19) continue with GNAC play on Monday, October 19th when they will host local rivals Mount Ida College, at 7:00 p.m., in the athletic center. Emmanuel will play at Simmons College on Tuesday night in a 7pm start.
Courtesy of Lasell College Sports Information