HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's volleyball team lost both ends of their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) home tri-match on Saturday afternoon at the Bridges Gymnasium in Henniker, New Hampshire, falling in straight sets to conference power Simmons University in the opener before rallying from two down against Rivier University, tying it up at two apiece. The Pilgrims lost a heart-breaking fifth set.
THE BASICS
Score – Match 1: Simmons 3, New England College 0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-10)
Score – Match 1: Rivier 3, New England College 2 (25-19, 25-15, 18-25, 17-25, 15-4)
SIMMONS 3, NEC 0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-10)
- Facing Simmons, the fourth-ranked team in the conference, NEC played two of their best sets of the season in the first and second, pulling to within two at 20-18 in the first before falling just short.
- NEC graduate middle-blocker Tatiana Sampson (Kailua, Hawaii) led the Pilgrims with five kills and five block assists in three sets, all while hitting .333. Senior outside hitter Savannah Pilialoha (Waipahu, Hawaii) also posted one of her better lines of the season with six kills, seven digs and an ace.
- The duo of junior setter Aurora Gutierrez-Macias (El Paso, Tex.) sophomore setter Alexandra Seijas (Fort Myers, Fla.) each tallied six set assists with eight and seven digs, respectively.
- Hitting percentage proved the difference, with the Sharks hitting for .272 against .106.
RIVIER 3, NEC 2 (25-19, 25-15, 18-25, 17-25, 15-4)
- Down two sets to none, the Pilgrims came storming out of the gate in the third, jumping out to a 6-2 lead behind the serving of NEC junior libero Kristina Cardello (Peabody, Mass.) and never looking back. In the fourth, down 4-2 early, the 'Grims posted another great run, winning ten of the next thirteen points, including two kills and an ace by junior outside hitter Lily-Anne Heywood (Derry, N.H.). The Bridges Gymnasium exploded in celebration as NEC closed out the set, tied at 2-2.
- The fifth set was all Raiders as the visitors jumped out to a 9-0 lead, never looking back.
- Heywood posted a brilliant all-around performance, with 14 kills, 17 digs and two service aces. Sampson finished with 12 kills and three total blocks.
- Pilialoha added ten kills and seven digs.
- Cardello posted 27 digs, leading all players.
UP NEXT
- The Pilgrims now await official word of their fate in the upcoming GNAC Championship Tournament.
