BRISTOL, R.I.- Looking to avenge a 3-0 loss from the regular season and hand a loss to a Roger Williams team that went undefeated (8-0) in regular season conference play and earned the top seed, the #4 Gulls came up just short, falling in five sets in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Semifinals. With the loss, Endicott falls to 16-16 on the season and will now await a possible berth into the ECAC tournament. Roger Williams (21-5), moves on to face #3 Salve Regina (20-9), who upset #2 Western New England (19-12).
The Gulls threw the first strike in the match, taking the first set by a 25-23 margin. It was Endicott's offense that gave the visitor's the upper-hand as the Gulls out-hit the Hawks .231 (14-5-39) to .054 (10-8-37) in the opening stanza. The second set would prove to be another close battle with RWU edging Endicott 25-22 to even the match at one set a piece as both squads recorded 13 kills in the frame, with Endicott committing two more errors (13-7-50) than RWU (13-5-43). With the match tied at one set each, the Gulls and Hawks would trade 25-18 sets to remain tied at 2-2 and force a fifth and final set which the home team would take via a 15-9 win.
Leading the way for the Gulls was the tandem of Tori McIntyre (San Diego, Calif.) and Hayley Knapp (Valencia, Calif.) as the two combined for 29 of Endicott's 52 kills. McIntyre finished with a team high 15 kills on 75 attempts while Knapp tallied 14 kills on 34 swings to lead the team with a .294 average. Elise Morgan (Holbrook, Mass.) finished with 11 kills of her own as setter Alleigh VandeMerkt (Riverside, Ill.) dished out a match high 41 assists.
VandeMerkt also collected 13 digs to complete the double-double, as McIntyre and Morgan recorded double-doubles as well, finishing with 15 kills 17 digs and 11 kills and 18 digs, respectively. Leading the Endicott defensive effort was senior Jessica Petrucci (Cape Coral, Fla.) as she finished with 19 digs in the five set loss while also notching three assists. Libero Cydney Pierce (Santa Barbara, Calif.) finished with 18 digs, tying her for second on the team and fifth in the match.
Roger Williams was led by All-CCC First Team middle Brittany McMullen (Lancaster, Pa.) led all players with a .387 average (15-3-31) and tied with McIntyre for the match high in kills with 15. The Gulls were able to contain CCC Player of the Year Elizabeth Flaherty (Sloatsburg, N.Y.) as the junior hit just .083 (10-6-48). Roger Williams' 6-2 setters Josalyn Benson (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Nicole Weber (Poulsbo, Wash.) finished with 45 assists combined, as Benson recorded 22 while Weber totaled 23. The Hawks' defensive efforts were impressive, as Maria Batas, Kristen Boyer, Sarah McAniff and Flaherty all finished with double digit dig totals. Batas led all players with 29 digs while Boyer and McAniff finished with 27 and 24. Boyer's 27 digs were in addition to her 14 kills as Flaherty contributed 18 digs to give both double-double performances.
With the loss, Endicott falls to 16-16 on the season and will now await a possible berth into the ECAC tournament. Roger Williams (21-5), moves on to face #3 Salve Regina (20-9), who upset #2 Western New England (19-12).
