WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL IMPROVES TO 6-0 IN GNAC, SWEEPS SUFFOLK & ALBERTUS MAGNUS

BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College cruised to a pair of 3-0 Great Northeast Athletic Conference women's volleyball victories Saturday afternoon over visiting Suffolk University (9-8, 2-3 GNAC) and Albertus Magnus College (5-13, 0-5 GNAC) to improve to 10-12 overall and a perfect 6-0 in GNAC play midway through the regular season.

MATCH 1 vs. Suffolk University

The Saints opened the afternoon making quick work of their crosstown rivals with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-11) sweep over the Rams. EC hit a collective .247 from the floor while holding Suffolk to a team hitting percentage of .010.

EC never trailed in the opening set but the Rams kept things close the entire way. A kill by freshman Marissa Cataldo (Melrose, Mass.) made it 15-8 but Suffolk rallied to pull within a point at 19-18 following an EC ball handling error. A timeout helped Emmanuel regroup and close out the set for the 25-21 win.

In the second set, Suffolk jumped out to an early 3-1 lead after an ace by sophomore Emma Feeney (Monroe, Conn.) but Emmanuel tied the score at 4-4 before going on an 11-1 run to put the set in hand. The Saints kept the Rams at bay, holding a double digit lead for the majority of the frame to take the set, 25-14, and hold a 2-0 match advantage.

Similar to the first two sets, the score was close early on with a tied score at 3-3. From there, Emmanuel doubled Suffolk's points, 12-6 and again at 16-8. The Rams comeback attempt did not come as the Saints rolled to the 25-11 set win, sealing the sweep.

Sophomore Mary Shelow (Miami, Fla.) led the way for the hosts with a match-high 10 kills to go along with five aces in a strong offensive showing. Senior Cassie Chruscielski (Duluth, Minn.) and Cataldo each added seven kills while senior libero Sarah Schemerhorn (Los Angeles, Calif.) posted a match-high 17 digs. The setting duo of sophomore Carly Church (Higganum, Conn.) and freshman Samantha DeMarco (Rockland, Mass.) combined for 26 assists in the win.

For the Rams, sophomore middle hitter Bridget Allison (Westford, Mass.) led the squad with seven kills to go along with eight digs. Junior outside hitter Jessica Rexrode (Gorham, Maine) and sophomore middle hitter Chidera Nwankwo (Canton, Mass.) chipped in with five kills each. Junior setter Liz Kerek (Holbrook, Mass.) posted a double-double with 20 assists and 12 digs while junior libero Heidy Barreiro (Dominican Republic) added 10 digs.

MATCH 2 vs. ALBERTUS MAGNUS

Later in the day, the Saints made quick work on the Falcons in a 3-0 (25-10, 25-8, 25-19) sweep to improve to a perfect 6-0 in GNAC play.

Albertus Magnus jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first set but it was short-lived as the Saints pulled away quickly behind the service game of Shelow and sophomore Katharine Journeay (Hampton, N.H.). Both rolled off five-point rallies for the Saints to help the hosts take an 18-6 lead before the first rotation was complete. Emmanuel held on for the 25-10 win as freshman outside hitter Allysan Cabral (Hope, R.I.) slammed home the final kill of the set.

The Saints jumped on the Falcons to open the second frame, racing out to a 10-1 lead to set the tone. The early deficit was too much for Albertus to overcome as EC kept the visitors in single digits in a 25-8 second frame.

The Falcons fought hard in the final set to try and extend the match, holding a lead midway through the action at 14-12 before Emmanuel closed the door on the afternoon. The Saints rattled off five straight points behind the service game of Church to take a 17-14 lead and never looked back en route to the 25-18 win.

The Saints received a balanced team effort as eight players recorded three or more kills. Senior middle Kaitlyn Atkinson (Brookline, N.H.) led the team with six winners while Shelow added five and Chruscielski four kills and a team-high 13 digs. Journeay, DeMarco, Cataldo, freshman Emily Matozel (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and freshman Shannon Carroll (Massapequa, N.Y.) all pitched in with three kills.  Schemerhorn added eight digs while senior Haley Walinski (Lincoln, R.I.) registered six in the win.

For Albertus Magnus, freshman right side Ashley David (West Islip, N.Y.) posted a match-high in kills and digs, collecting seven winners and 16 put-ups.  Junior Ana Gomez (New Haven, Conn.) was also in double-figures with 10 digs while junior Marielis Muriel (New Haven, Conn.) added eight digs and two service aces.

Emmanuel returns to action on Thursday, October 13 for a key GNAC contest against Johnson & Wales University at 7:00 PM in Boston. Both squads are currently unbeaten in GNAC play.