SAINTS FALL TO ENDICOTT IN FIVE-SET ECAC HEARTBREAKER
Nov. 9, 2011
BEVERLY, Mass. - The third-seeded Endicott College Gulls outlasted the sixth-seeded Emmanuel Saints, 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-13), in the Quarterfinals of the ECAC Division III New England Women's Volleyball Tournament. The five-setter was hosted by the Gulls and played in Endicott's MacDonald Gymnasium. Endicott will now advance to face \#2 Plymouth State University on Saturday, November 12th in the tournament semifinals. Emmanuel's season comes to a close with an overall record of 21-16.
Endicott (16-15) escaped their quarterfinal match with Emmanuel thanks to a strong defensive effort at the net and effective passing. The Gulls record 13.0 blocks as a team with freshman middle Hannah Dahlgren (Queensbury, N.Y.) leading the charge with five solo blocks and one assisted stop at the net. Senior Elyse Barbour (Greenville, R.I.) had seven total blocks, six of which were assisted blocks. Four different Endicott players had double-digit digs including junior libero Ashley Norley (Sudbury, Mass.) and senior captain Sarah Allshouse (Berthoud, Colo.), who registered 23 and 21 digs, respectively.
Defense was key for the Gulls in this match, as the hosts had to defend against a 21-kill effort by Emmanuel senior middle hitter Rebecca Stanton (Quincy, Mass.), who committed just five hitting errors while recording a .348 hit percentage. Stanton also had three solo blocks in the effort.
Emmanuel's defenders did their part, as Saints junior libero Yun-Ting Lee (Cambridge, Mass.) had a match-high 28 digs. Senior Jenna Ross (Centerburg, Ohio) was also a factor with 25 digs, to go along with her 13 kills for the Saints.
On offense for Endicott, sophomore Callie Dolan (Westford, Mass.) had a team-high 15 kills while Barbour added another 14 kills with a .429 hit percentage. Dahlgren and junior outside hitter Falyn Torelli (Pelham, N.Y.) also contributed with 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
Allshouse dished out 46 set assists to go along with her 21 digs and three assisted blocks. Emmanuel's two setters, senior Kathryne Olsen (Fairhaven, Mass.) and freshman Alison Donnelly (Longmeadow, Mass.), combined for 49 assists. Olsen posted a near triple-double in her final collegiate match, as she tallied 32 of those assists to go along with 14 digs and seven kills.
Endicott's defensive specialists Gillian Kucharski (Avon, Conn.) and Emily Gillich (Clifton Park, N.Y.) chipped in with 17 and 11 digs each in the five-set win.
- Courtesy of Endicott College Sports Information