BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.) recorded 15 kills, 11 digs, two blocks, and hit .345 to help pace the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Salve Regina in a Commonwealth Coast Conference match played at Tansey Gymnasium. The win was the first in the series for the Leopards in the last 13 meetings between the two schools, dating back to Sept. 28, 2005.
With the win Wentworth improves to 12-2 overall and 1-1 in CCC play while the Seahawks fall to 8-6 overall and are still seeking their first victory in league play (0-3).
The opening set featured 11 ties and three lead changes as the two teams played point-for-point in the early going. The Leopards took a 15-10 lead on a Rogoz kill and extended their lead to 21-15 on a freshman Samantha Lassiter (Rogers, Ark.) kill. Salve Regina used an 8-1 run to take a 23-22 lead on a block from freshman Annie Donahue (Chelmsford, Mass.) and senior Kat Mendes (New Bedford, Mass.). After a service error, Rogoz and senior Stephanie Nihan (Dracut, Mass.) combined for a block giving the Leopards set point. However, a Donahue kill evened the score at 24-all. Wentworth would take the set, 27-25 on a kill from junior Caroline Shea (Abington, Mass.). Freshman Claire Quick (Mission Viejo, Calif.) had six kills in the set while Rogoz added five. Sophomore Cassidy Trablicy (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Donahue had four kills apiece for the Seahawks.
In the second set Wentworth snapped a 7-7 tie with a Quick kill and would extend its lead to 18-10 on a Rogoz kill. The Leopards led 19-11 after a service error, however Salve Regina used an 8-2 run to close the gap to 21-19 after a Leopard attack error. Out of a time out, Wentworth scored four of the next five points to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-20 win. Rogoz had five kills in the set for the Black & Gold while Quick added four on nine swings. Junior Tara Kellenbarger (Encinitas, Calif.) had three kills for the Seahawks.
Wentworth closed out the match with a 25-18 win in the third set as the Leopards hit a match-high .375. The Leopards raced out to an 11-4 lead after a block from junior Katelyn Carlson (Stratford, Conn.) and Lassiter. The Seahawks used a 7-3 spurt to cut the margin to 14-11 after a ball handling error, and trailed 15-12 after a junior Francesca Testani (Shelton, Conn.) kill. Wentworth extended its lead to 22-14 after a Rogoz kill and a Shea kill ended the match. Rogoz and Carlson had five and four kills, respectively, in the set.
Quick finished with 13 kills, three service aces, and hit .480. Carlson had eight kills, 16 assists, two aces, and two digs, Lassiter had five kills on five swings and added a pair of blocks, while freshman Katie Clouse (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) had 26 assists. Sophomore Lillie Clark (Vista, Calif.) had 16 digs.
Donahue had eight kills, three blocks, and hit .500 to pace Salve Regina. Trablicy added six kills, and junior Samantha Higgins (Coventry, R.I.) had five kills.
Wentworth hosts Nichols on Saturday. Salve Regina is at WPI on Thursday.
