HARTFORD, Conn.- Endicott traveled south last night to take on the #11 team in New England, Trinity College (Conn.) and wound up coming out with a hard fought 3-0 loss. Trinity's potent offense was on point as the team posted a .380 attack percentage to Endicott's .011.
Trinity came out on fire as they were able to take the first set by scores of 25-18 and 25-15. The third set was as close as they come between the Bantams and the Gulls. Endicott nearly pulled out a third set win as the team was up 26-25 with set point. Trinity took the next two points to go up 27-26 before Endicott was able to tie it at 27-27. The Bantams won the 55th point of the set to take a 28-27 advantage and serve for match point. After digging the Endicott attempt, Trinity was able to set the ball to senior co-captain Danielle Isaman (Warrenton, Va.) who was able to knock down her match-high 11th kill and seal the victory for the Bantams.
Isaman was unstoppable on the night as the outside had 11 kills on 15 error-free attempts to hit an astounding .733, while also recording a match-high four aces. A pair of freshman also had outstanding nights as Hunter Drews (Clifton, N.Y.) and Kate Giddens (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) paired to record 17 kills with only one error on 28 attempts. Giddens, a middle, was able to notch nine of those on 16 attempts and only one error as she hit .562 on the match. Drews recorded eight kills with one error on 12 attempts for a .583 hitting percentage. Amy Hackett (Wallingford, Conn.) led the victors with 15 assists while Hannah Brickley (Melrose, Mass.) picked up 11 digs. Katie Stueber (Darien, Conn.) led the Bantams with four total digs by recording three solo blocks and one assist block.
The Gulls were led defensively by Ashley Norley (Sudbury, Mass.) as the senior libero recorded a match-high 14 digs. CCC Rookie of the Week Alleigh VandeMerkt (Riverside, Ill.) recorded a match-high 16 assists while also picking up a team-high three aces. Callie Dolan (Westford, Mass.) and Jackie Cone (Salem, N.H.) each picked up six kills to lead the Gulls as Mackenzie Guerre (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Hannah Dahlgren (Queensbury, N.Y.) picked up five and four kills respectively. Dahlgren had the highest hitting percentage for the Gulls as the sophomore hit at a .273 clip and she led the team with three total blocks by picking up two solo blocks and one assist block.
Endicott is now set to travel to the "Windy City" as the Gulls are heading to Chicago, Ill. to play three matches. Two of the teams are ranked nationally as the #9 and #13 teams in the most recent AVCA poll. The Gulls face off against Wheaton (Ill.) on Friday evening before taking on the #13 U. of Chicago Saturday morning and #9 Elmhurst Saturday afternoon.
Trinity hosts Connecticut College, Wesleyan and Roger Williams in Hartford this weekend.