WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL FALLS TO UMASS DARTMOUTH IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION, 3-1

DARTMOUTH, Mass. --  Junior Nicole Silverman (Chelmsford, Mass.) notched a double-double effort of 14 kills and 18 digs to lead UMass Dartmouth to a 3-1 non-league college volleyball victory over Emmanuel Thursday evening at the Tripp Athletic Center.

Senior Kristy Walton (Fairhaven, Mass.) added 13 kills and hit at a .323 clip in the triumph for the host Corsairs (9-13), who dropped the opening set by a 25-16 margin before taking the next three by scores of 25-22, 25-13 and 25-16.  Senior Amanda LaCroix (East Freetown, Mass.) added nine kills and 13 digs for the winners, who received six kills and a pair of digs from freshman Molly Porch (New Hartford, Conn.).  Freshman Mallory Singer (Succasunna, N.J.) collected four kills for UMass Dartmouth, which received three kills from junior Samantha Sedano (Valley Glen, Calif.) along with 26 set assists and three digs from sophomore Riley Thomas (Fairhaven, Mass.).  Junior Jordan Rittberger (Huntington, N.Y.), who was honored in pre-game ceremonies after notching her 1,000th career assist last weekend, registered 17 set assists, nine digs and two service aces for the Corsairs, who received 24 digs, three set assists and a pair of service aces from junior Jillian Sykora (Waterford, Conn.).

Junior Marissa Cataldo (Melrose, Mass.) recorded a double-double effort of 13 kills and 14 digs in the setback for the visiting Saints (7-14), who received eight kills and 10 digs from senior Casey Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) along with eight kills and a pair of digs from senior Mary Shelow (Miami, Fla.).  Senior Carly Church(Higganum, Conn.) chipped in with 29 set assists, six digs and a pair of kills for Emmanuel, which received 17 digs and three set assists from senior Katharine Journeay (Hampton, N.H.) along with 14 digs and two service aces from senior Michelle Church (Higganum, Conn.).

UMass Dartmouth travels to Newport, R.I. on Saturday afternoon to square off with Eastern Connecticut and host Salve Regina in a non-league tri-match beginning at Noon, while Emmanuel entertains Colby-Sawyer in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference clash on Saturday afternoon on Andy Yosinoff Court in Boston that begins at 2:00 pm.

*Release courtesy of UMass Dartmouth Athletic Communications