WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL FALLS TO RIVIER IN GNAC SEMIFINALS
Nov. 6, 2008
NASHUA, N.H. - The Emmanuel College Women's Volleyball Team's season ended in the GNAC semifinals on Thursday night, when the fourth-seeded Saints fell to top-seeded Raiders of Rivier College, 3-1, in the Muldoon Center on the campus of Rivier College. The Saints came out strong in the first set, running up a 15-6 advantage early on in the opener. Rivier clawed back and Emmanuel made several unforced errors, allowing the Raiders to take the first set 29-27. Set two was dominated all the way through by Rivier, as the Raiders cruised to a 25-17 victory.
Set three commenced with much of the same, as Rivier held an eight point advantage at 17-11. However, it was the Saints who came storming back and finished with a 28-26 win to force a fourth set. The Raiders jumped out to a quick 4-0 advantage in the fourth set, but the Saints fought right back and tied the set at 4-4. Several Emmanuel errors midway through the set, allowed the Raiders to capitalize and the flood gates opened as Rivier rode the wave all the way to a 25-15 victory and a birth in their fourth straight GNAC championship match.
Emmanuel's co-captain Amanda Machado (Swansea, Mass.) again dominated the Saints' defensive play in the backrow. The senior collected a program-record and conference-tournament record 40 digs in the effort for Emmanuel. Machado's 40 digs also tied the GNAC record for most digs in a 3, 4, or 5 set match. Nicole McAllister (Hampden, Maine) also played a strong defensive match for Emmanuel. The junior middle tallied 5 blocks to go along with her 6 kills and 3 aces.
Senior co-captain Lindsey Parker (New Bedford, Mass.) and freshman hitter Jenna Ross each recorded double-doubles for the Saints. Parker led Emmanuel's offense with 11 kills, as well as 17 digs. Ross knocked down 10 kills and gathered 20 digs for the Saints.
Freshman Rebecca Stanton (Quincy, Mass.) and sopohomore Megan Murray (Killngworth, Conn.) combined for 10 kills, while freshman setter Kathryne Olsen (Fairhaven, Mass.) dished out 33 assists in the effort.
The Saints' tournament run will end in the GNAC semifinals. Emmanuel has wrapped up the season with an overall record of 17-14 and a conference mark of 10-2. Rivier will host 2nd-seeded Johnson & Wales University in the GNAC Championship match on Saturday (11/8) at 1pm. Emmanuel's Amanda Machado was named to the GNAC All-Tournament Team for her performance's in the Saints' two tournament matches.