BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Paige Curran (Chelmsford, Mass.) had eight kills, two aces, and three blocks to help pace the University of New England women's volleyball team to its first Commonwealth Coast Conference win of the season as the Nor'Easters defeated Wentworth, 3-0.
UNE opened the match with a 4-1 start and led, 12-9, before the Leopards took advantage of five Nor'Easter miscues and went on a 7-1 run, taking a 16-13 lead on an ace by junior Nicole Wetherbee (Pembroke, Mass.). However, the visitors responded with a 9-1 run of their own to take a 22-17 lead and eventually took the first set, 25-19.
The second set opened with five ties, including when a UNE service error tied the set at 6-all, but the Nor'Easters responded with five straight points to take an 11-6 lead. The hosts cut the lead to as few as three on three occasions, including at 16-13, but the Nor'Easters prevailed, 25-19.
Trailing 6-5 in the third set, the Nor'Easters went on a 9-1 run to take a 14-7 lead, capped off by a Curran block. After the two teams traded two points apiece, Wentworth used 7-1 run of its own and trailed 17-16. A Leopard service error gave UNE an 18-16 lead. The teams traded points, and, trailing 19-17, Wentworth used a 7-2 run to take a 24-21 lead.
Serving for the match, the Leopards committed an attack error, and, back to back kills from senior Abby Davis (Somersworth, N.H.) knotted the score at 24-all. A kill from senior Julie Bruton (Montgomery, Texas) gave the hosts a 25-24 lead, but Curran responded with two kills and an attack error by the Leopards ended the set, 27-25, and the match.
Sophomore Angie Brunette (North Andover, Mass.) also added eight kills for UNE, while Davis had six kills and 14 digs. Sophomore Maria Kuehl (Middletown, N.H.) had 16 assists and 17 digs.
Wentworth was led by junior Julie Rahilly (Nashua, N.H.) and sophomore Michelle Hobbs (Northwood, N.H.), who each had eight kills and eight digs. Bruton added five kills, two aces, and five blocks, while sophomore Mary Horgan (Mahwah, N.J.) had 23 assists. Wentworth had a negative attack percentage (-.030) for the first time this season.
With the win the Nor'Easters improve to 4-9 (1-2 CCC) and are at Salve Regina Saturday afternoon. Wentworth sees its two-match win streak come to an end, falling to 8-9 (1-1).
