BEVERLY, Mass.- One day one of the Endicott Invitational, the women's volleyball team played host to old rival Colby-Sawyer and came away with a three set sweep. With the win, Endicott improves to 13-7 (2-1 CCC) while the Chargers fall to 4-19 (2-0 NAC).
The Gulls used an impressive offensive performance to seize control of the match quickly, hitting .314 in the first set and .370 in the second to establish a 2-0 lead by taking the first 25-20 and the second 25-15. The third set would the most tightly contested as Endicott would rally from a five point deficit midway through (11-6), and a three point deficit late (21-18) to take the set 25-22 and the match, 3-0.
Endicott was also led by a great team defensive performance as the Gulls posted eight blocks and 51 digs, compared to two and 40 for the Chargers. Leading the defensive efforts was Cydney Pierce (Santa Barbara, Calif.), the reigning CCC and ECAC Libero of the Week, who finished with 12 digs in the win. Endicott's impressive blocking performance was spear headed by first year player Rasa Hamel (Clinton, Conn.), who posted one solo and three assist blocks in just one set of action. Fellow middles Kelli Sugrue (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Hayley Knapp (Valencia, Calif.) each chipped in one solo and one assist block to help.
BEYOND THE BOX
- The win snapped a three match losing streak to the Chargers and improves Endicott's record all-time against Colby-Sawyer to 19-10. Endicott's previous win, on October 4, 2011, was also a 3-0 sweep, as were six of the team's last seven wins against the visitors.
- The rivalry has proven to be one of streaks as prior to Colby-Sawyer's three match win streak, the Gulls had claimed 10 straight during the span of September 23, 2006 to October 4, 2011. Endicott is now 11-3 against Colby-Sawyer when playing at home, 2-1 on a neutral court, and 6-5 at Colby-Sawyer.
- Junior outside Tori McIntyre (San Diego, Calif.) was the kill leader for the match with 10, the 11th match of the season that she has eclipsed the double-digit kill mark. Her nine digs were one shy of her sixth double-double performance of the season. Fellow junior Hayley Knapp was nearly perfect at the net, posting six kills on seven attempts for a match-high .857 average.
- Sophomore Lauren Sheehan (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) finished with seven kills on 13 swings and a .462 average as she also picked up five digs. It marks her fifth performance of .300 or better this season.
- The Gulls saw three setters record significant time this evening as Alleigh VandeMerkt (Riverside, Ill.) recorded a team-high 12 assists while Mareena Clotfelter (Poulsbo, Wash.) and Staci Sonke (Bishop, Calif.) each ran an efficient offense as well. Clotfelter posted her fourth double-double performance by notching 10 assists and 10 digs while Sonke recorded five assists, two digs and an ace in her one set of action.
FOR THE FOES
- Gabrielle Rodriguez (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) tallied a team-high eight kills in the setback while also digging six balls and recording two aces. It was the seventh time she has recorded eight or more kills in a match this season.
- Setter Gabrielle Ratte (Kula, Hawaii) posted a match-high 20 assists in the loss while also pitching in three kills. Kelsey Sullivan (Laconia, N.H.) was the beneficiary of six of those assists as the outside posted a 6-1-22 (.227) line on the evening to go along with nine digs.
- Libero Lexi Strong (Somersworth, N.H.) picked up a match-high 14 digs as she was the only Charger to reach double-digits.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Endicott Invitational continues tomorrow as both teams will play Moravian and Babson. Endicott hosts Moravian on court one at 12:00 p.m. with Colby-Sawyer and Babson squaring off on court two at the same time. The two teams will then switch opponents with the second matches slated to start a half hour after the conclusion of the 12:00 p.m. contests. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
