SAINTS ERASE EARLY DEFICIT IN 3-1 WIN OVER LESLEY

BOSTON, Mass. – After falling in the opening set 25-23, the Emmanuel College Women's Volleyball team regrouped to win the next three sets en route to a 3-1 (23-25, 25-11, 25-23, 25-17) non-conference victory over Lesley University Thursday evening at the Jean Yawkey Center. The Saints improve to 15-9 on the year while the loss drops the Lynx to 8-3 overall.

In the opening frame, Lesely jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. EC led briefly, up 8-7 following an ace by sophomore Sarah Schemerhorn (Los Angeles, Calif.) but the Lynx rolled off the next four points to stay on top for good in the set. Junior outside hitter Jessie Reynolds (Londonderry, N.H.), senior Danielle Johnson (Waterford, Conn.) and junior setter Emily Marden (Fremont, Calif.) all registered a pair of kills in the set while the Lesley defensive held the Saints to a .000 hitting percentage (8-8-39).

Following the break in between sets, the Saints returned to the court on a mission and it showed as they jumped out to a 6-1 lead following three consecutive aces from sophomore outside hitter Cassie Chruscielski (Duluth, Minn.). Senior right side hitter Sarah Colby (West Barnstable, Mass.) enjoyed a strong frame, collecting four kills in the set en route to the Saints 25-11 win to even the match at 1-1.

With the momentum on its side, Emmanuel opened up a huge lead in the third set, racing out to a 17-5 margin before the Lynx put on their rally caps. The visitors were able to claw all the way back to within a point, trailing 24-23 following back-to-back kills from Johnson but Chruscielski closed the door on the rally with a kill to lift the Saints to the 25-23 win, putting the hosts on top 2-1 in the match.

Again Lesley jumped out to an early lead in the fourth set, going up 9-6 following an ace from freshman outside hitter Anni Abbruzzese (Croton on Hudson, N.Y.). Emmanuel was able push the next four points to take the 10-9 lead and would not relinquish it en route to the 25-17 win, taking the match 3-1.

Chruscielski paced the Saints with a team-high nine kills to go along with eight digs while sophomore middle hitter Kaitlyn Atkinson (Brookline, N.H.) chipped in with eight kills. Junior setter Shannon Dudley (Morro Bay, Calif.) dished out 30 assists in the win while also collecting 18 digs while senior libero Cara Callahan (Medway, Mass.) starred defensively with a match-high 21 digs.

For Lesely, Abbruzzese was solid all around with 12 kills, 15 digs and two assists. Johnson finished the night with 10 kills while Marden ran the offensive show with 30 assists. Senior libero Danielle McDonald (Lilitz, Pa.) was also strong defensively with a team-high 17 digs. Reynolds and junior defensive specialist Melisa Randall (Fremont, Calif.) chipped in with 12 digs a piece.

Emmanuel returns to action on Saturday, Oct 11 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference tri-match. The Saints face off against Saint Joseph's College (ME) as well as Rivier University up in Standish, Maine. The Lynx play next on the same day, hosting Mitchell College at 6:30 PM.