HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's volleyball team won in four sets over visiting Dean College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Tuesday evening at Bridges Gymnasium in Henniker, New Hampshire.
THE BASICS
Score: Dean 1, New England College 3 (23-25, 25-9, 25-23, 29-27)
Records: Pilgrims 7-8, 2-3 GNAC | Bulldogs 5-13, 2-6 GNAC
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In the first set, the Pilgrims trailed most of the way, but found themselves tied at 23-23 with the opening stanza on the line. But back to back attack errors gave the Bulldogs the set and the lead.
- The second set was all 'Grims as NEC burst out to a 12-3 lead and never looked back. NEC sophomore outside hitter Lily-Anne Heywood (Derry, N.H.) and junior outside hitter Torrance Robertson (Bakersfield, Calif.) each posted five kills in the second.
- In the third set, NEC trailed early on but surged ahead with a 15-12 lead behind the serving of sophomore defensive specialist Krissy Cardello (Peabody, Mass.). In a situation mirroring the first set, the two teams found themselves tied at 23-23. This time, it was the 'Grims who came out ahead, with Robertson setting up set point with a kill and an error giving the home team the 2-1 advantage.
- The fourth set was a brutal back-and-forth affair, after the Pilgrims opened with an 8-1 lead behind the serving of senior middle-blocker Tatiana Sampson (Kailua, Hawaii), only to watch the Bulldogs storm back to tie it up at 13-13 after a service ace by Dean senior setter Bella Driscoll (Plymouth, Mass.). The set once again went down to the wire with NEC holding match point three times only to come up short. Tied at 27-27 with the Bulldogs holding serve, NEC senior outside hitter Renee McBride-Rogers (Midwest City, Okla.) got the kill and the visitors errored on the next point as the Bridges Gym erupted in celebration.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Heywood led the 'Grims with a career-high 17 kills to go along with 12 digs and three block assists.
- Robertson had her best match as a Pilgrim, racking up 13 kills with three digs.
- Dean senior hitter Sari Albury (Nassau, Bahamas) dominated for the Bulldogs with 13 kills, six total blocks and three aces.
- NEC sophomore setter Aurora Gutierrez-Macias (El Paso, Tex.) finished with a career high 22 digs with 16 set assists.
- Freshman setter Alexandra Seijas (Fort Myers, Fla.) posted 17 set assists and ten digs.
UP NEXT
- NEC is back on the court on Saturday when they travel to Mitchell College for a GNAC trimatch against the host Mariners and the Lasers of Lasell.
