NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The NEC women's volleyball team secured its second consecutive straight-set victory, downing Albertus Magnus in the Pilgrims' Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener on Saturday.
The Pilgrims kicked off conference play on a high note, taking care of the Falcons with relative ease in three sets (26-24, 25-12, 25-18).
Albertus Magnus showed the most resistance in the first set of the morning, even leading by as many as five points, 17-12. But the 'Grims fought back, winning five of the final seven points including the set-winning kill from junior LisaRaye Placencio (Maricopa, Ariz.) to take the 1-0 advantage.
NEC dominated in set number two while going on several big runs, including a 5-0 run to end the set on another kill from Placencio on the find from senior Lily Cunanan (Woonsocket, R.I.).
Looking to secure the quick victory, the Pilgrims conceded an early lead to the Falcons but used an 8-0 run to re-gain control of the third set. They finished the set on an 8-3 run, fueled by a dominant run from junior Emma Bernard (Chester, N.H.) who had five kills on five straight Pilgrim points.
Bernard led the team with 13 kills on a highly efficient .550 hitting percentage. Placencio had nine kills, while sophomore Teagan Saner (Plains, Mont.) added six kills and 2.5 blocks. Graduate Alexandra Seijas-Quea (Fort Myers, Fla.) put up a season-high 21 assists.
The Pilgrims return home for a non-conference matchup against MCLA on Tuesday at 6:00 PM from Bridges Gymnasium.
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