HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's volleyball team split its Saturday Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match, falling to Lasell University 3-0 and picking up a convincing 3-0 victory over Saint Joseph (Conn.).
Match 1 – NEC 0, LAS 3 (18-25, 20-25, 21-25)
Both teams traded points early in the opening set before Lasell pulled ahead 10-7. The Lasers extended their lead to 15-8 behind a pair of kills, but senior Aurora Gutierrez-Macias (El Paso, Tex.) responded with a service ace to keep the set within five points. Lasell answered with a string of aces from Andrea Aceituno, but senior Kaylee Montgomery (Weare, N.H.) connected for a late kill to keep the Pilgrims in the set. A final kill from Morgan Bogli sealed the 25-18 first set win for Lasell.
The Pilgrims jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead behind a series of kills from junior Tyra Kelly (Fresno, Calif.). Lasell capitalized on NEC errors to take a 7-5 lead and carried that momentum to extend their lead in the set. NEC fought back, closing the gap with a service ace from graduate Alexandra Seijas-Quea (Fort Meyers, Fla.) and a kill from sophomore LisaRaye Placencio (Maricopa, Ariz.). The 'Grims trimmed the lead to 22-19, but Lasell closed the set with a series of kills to take a 25-20 win.
The third set featured another tight battle with both teams trading leads early. Lasell took advantage of a few NEC errors to go up 12-11 before the Pilgrims answered with kills from sophomore Victoria Barragan (El Paso, Tex.) and Placencio. A quick 3-0 Lasell run was cut short by back-to-back kills from Placencio, keeping the set close. The teams continued to exchange points late, but a final kill from Bogli secured the third set and 3-0 sweep for the Lasers.
Placencio led the offense with 10 kills and added three digs. Kelly finished with eight kills while senior Kristina Cardello (Peabody, Mass.) recorded 11 digs and four assists. Seijas-Quea achieved the 1,000 career assists milestone during the first match, recording 15 assists and eight digs.
Match 2 – NEC 3, USJ 0 (25-22, 25-8, 25-16)
Saint Joseph opened the match with a quick 3-1 lead, but the Pilgrims responded with kills from Kelly and a series of Blue Jays errors to go up 7-3. Both teams traded points throughout the set, with neither side allowing the other to take the lead. Late kills from Kelly and Placencio pushed NEC ahead, and consecutive attacking errors by the visitors sealed a 25-22 first set win for the 'Grims.
The Pilgrims dominated the second set, jumping out to a commanding 14-0 lead behind back-to-back kills from Kelly and four service aces from senior Lily-Anne Heywood (Derry, N.H.). The Blue Jays broke the run with a kill and an ace, but senior Jamie Hansen (New Underwood, S.D.) answered with a kill to extend the lead to 15-2. Hansen and freshman Maddy Rollinson (Hamden, Conn.) continued the offensive surge, combining for multiple kills and an ace to make it 21-4. The Blue Jays had a late rally to trim the 'Grims lead, but a final kill from Kelly closed out the dominant 25-8 second set win for NEC.
The 'Grims carried their momentum into the third set, jumping ahead 6-2 with kills from Heywood, Kelly, and Placencio. The Blue Jays answered with a kill of their own, but Hansen responded with two straight kills to extend the lead to 10-4. The teams traded points late in the set before a pair of kills from Hansen, and another from Kelly stretched the margin to 20-10. Saint Joseph trimmed the lead to 20-13 after taking advantage of NEC errors, but Montgomery sealed the match with a kill to complete the 3-0 sweep.
Kelly paced the Pilgrims with 11 kills and two digs, while Hansen added nine kills and four digs. Seijas-Quea once again directed the offense, tallying 16 assists and adding 14 digs. Heywood chipped in four service aces and 12 digs, and Cardello recorded 13 digs and seven assists.
With the win, the 'Grims secure the No.8 seed in the GNAC Playoffs and will travel to Boston, Massachusetts on Tuesday to face top-seeded Emmanuel with a 7:00PM start.
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