BOSTON, Mass. – In the regular-season finale, the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team fell to Endicott College, 3-1 in Commonwealth Coast Conference action, Saturday afternoon.
With the win the Gulls improve to 19-11 overall and close conference play with a perfect, 9-0 record, while the Leopards fall to 23-5 (5-4).
In a set that featured six ties including five within the first few points of the game Wentworth appeared to be in full control. A service ace by junior Katelyn Carlson (Stratford, Conn.) gave the Leopards a 16-11 late in the set and forced Endicott to call a timeout.
Endicott climbed its way back pulling to within one-point of the Leopards, 17-16 following a 5-1 run. Wentworth sophomore Lillie Clark (Vista, Calif.) put the Leopards back in front by three, 19-16, with a service ace but the Leopard lead did not last for very long. The Gulls responded with a 7-0 run, paced by sophomore Mareena Clotfelter (Poulsbo, Wash.), as they did not look back to take the first set 25-21.
Trailing 1-0, Wentworth hit .387 as a team in the second set and jumped in front 9-3 before Endicott came back with a 6-1 run to pull with one-point, 10-9, and forced the hosts to call a timeout.
Coming out of the timeout, freshman Claire Quick (Mission Viejo, Calif.) answered with a kill, igniting a mini 4-0 run and provided some separation from the Gulls to extend the lead to 14-9. Quick and classmate Samantha Lassister (Rogers, Ark.) combined to hit .583 while each tallying four kills to lead the Leopards to the 25-21 set win to even up the match at 1-1.
Wentworth's momentum from their second set victory carried over into the start of the third set jumping out to a 6-1 before Endicott called its first timeout. When they came out of the timeout, the Leopards continued to pile on with a 7-2 run to take their largest lead of the set, 13-3. The Gulls began to chip away at the lead, using a 5-0 run to pull within three points of the lead, 17-14, but Wentworth answered, pulling back ahead by five, 20-15.
On the cusp of taking a 2-1 match lead with a four-point, 23-19 advantage late in the set, momentum swung towards Endicott as the Gulls went on a 4-0 run to knot up the contest at 23-all and staved off three ties and three lead changes in the final points to take the third set, 28-26.
Endicott jumped out in front, 11-3, to open the fourth set following a kill by Remi Quesnelle (Sunderland, Mass.). The Leopards clawed their way back with a 7-2 to cut the deficit to two, 12-10 and force the Gulls to call a timeout.
Coming out of the timeout, the Leopards used a 5-2 run to take their first lead in the set, 15-14. But the Gulls did not go away, never trailing by more than two points when first year outside hitter Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.) put the Leopards on top 18-16 with a kill.
However, Endicott used two service aces by fist year Alex Dippel (Fallston, Md.) to begin a 9-1 run Endicott and take the game and match, 25-19.
Rogoz led the Leopard offense with 18 kills to go along with 18 digs. Lassiter had 12 kills and six blocks and Quick had 13 kills and 24 digs. Carlson had 15 assists and four blocks, freshman Katie Clouse (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) had 26 assists, and Clark had 25 digs.
Endicott senior Tori McIntyre (San Diego, Calif.) recorded a double-double herself tallying 13 kills and 18 digs to lead the Gulls while sophomore Emma Mancini (Lynnfield, Mass.) followed up with 12 kills. Quesnelle came off the bench to round out the Gulls with 11 kills.
Both teams wait to find out who they will play in the upcoming Commonwealth Conference Championship Tournament beginning Tuesday November 1st.
