Nov. 9, 2006
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In a back-and-forth match, No. 5 Endicott College upset No. 4 Eastern Connecticut State University, 30-17, 20-30, 30-26, 26-30, 15-11, in an NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball New England Regional match on Thursday. The Gulls (26-12) will face No. 1 seed U.S. Coast Guard Academy at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
In the opening frame, Endicott turned an 8-8 tie into a 13-8 advantage. Eastern Connecticut was able to cut its deficit to three (17-14), but it was as close as they would get as the Gulls won 13 of the next 16 points.
The second stanza started in a similar fashion, this time with the Warriors taking a 7-5 edge. The Gulls won the next point, however, Eastern Connecticut tallied the next seven for a comfortable 14-6 lead. The Warriors went on to cruise to the second game victory.
In the third game, Eastern Connecticut established a 16-11 margin. Endicott slowly chipped away at the deficit as it eventually trailed, 20-19. The Warriors captured the next two points, but the Gulls answered with a six-point run for a 25-22 lead. Eastern Connecticut ended the rally, but Endicott held on for the win.
The Warriors raced out to a 15-4 lead in the fourth, which later grew to 29-18. The Gulls delayed game point by scoring eight unanswered points. The late rally was not enough as Eastern Connecticut was able to force a decisive fifth game.
After trading points on service errors, the Warriors went ahead, 3-1. Endicott scored the next four points for a 5-3 edge. Eastern Connecticut tied the game at six and then took an 8-7 lead at the changeover. The Gulls generated a four-point lead that helped propel them to the next round of competition.
Sara Moore paced Endicott with 21 kills while Steph Wiese registered a double-double with 19 kills and 12 digs. Brittany Nolan totaled a match-high 29 digs and three aces while Meghan Hall collected 23 digs and distributed 49 assists.
Eastern Connecticut's Emma Sousa led all attackers with 25 kills as Jessica Keogh and Angela Loomis notched 15 and 12, respectively. Sousa led the blocking corps with seven stops. Marianna Capomolla anchored the back row with 28 digs and contributed three aces. Priscilla Dougherty posted 49 assists and 15 digs while Sandra Jacques added 18 digs.