HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's volleyball team lost in straight sets to visiting UMass Boston in non-conference action on Wednesday evening at Bridges Gymnasium in Henniker, New Hampshire.
THE BASICS
Score: UMass Boston 3, New England College 0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-20)
Records: Pilgrims 10-17, 6-7 GNAC | Beacons 17-8, 5-2 LEC
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Down two sets to none, the Pilgrims rallied in the third, going up 7-2 behind the serving of NEC senior outside hitter Savannah Pilialoha (Waipahu, Hawaii). But the Beacons kept chipping away at the lead, finally going on a 7-0 run to surge in front off the serving of UMB freshman outside hitter Kesmyn Alves (Brockton, Mass.). The 'Grims were never able to threaten again.
KRISTINA CARDELLO – NEC SINGLE SEASON DIGS RECORD
- With the 'Grims trailing 6-1 in the second set, NEC junior libero Kristina Cardello (Peabody, Mass.) picked up her seventh dig of the match and her 393rd of the season. With that play, Cardello broke the previous Pilgrim single-season record of 392 digs, that mark set by former NEC great Jaycie Kodama during the 2022 season. Cardello would finish with 14 digs for the match. She remains on track to break her own single-season NEC record for digs per set in a season (3.815).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- NEC sophomore right-side hitter Maeve Amarosa (Madbury, N.H.) posted six kills to lead the Pilgrims, while Pilialoha had five with seven digs.
- NEC sophomore setter Alexandra Seijas (Fort Myers, Fla.) had ten set assists.
- UMB junior outside hitter Lauren Westlund (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the Beacons with 13 kills, three total blocks and six digs.
- UMB freshman libero Mary Matthews (Wilsonville, Oreg.) led all players with 21 digs.
- The Beacons held a .202 to -.028 advantage in hitting percentage, that proving decisive.
UP NEXT
- NEC is back on the court on Saturday when they conclude their regular season schedule by hosting a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tri-Match against visiting Simmons University and River University. The 'Grims will play the Sharks at 11:00 a.m. to open the competition.
- UMass Boston plays their next game at home on Saturday against Eastern Connecticut State University in a 12:00 p.m. matchup.
