SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Paced by 15 kills, 22 digs, and four blocks from sophomore Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.), the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team snapped a 14-match series losing streak to Western New England as the Leopards fended off the Golden Bears, 3-1, in Commonwealth Coast Conference play.
With the win the Leopards improve to 12-1 overall and even their record in the CCC at 1-1. The Golden Bears fall to 7-7 (1-1). Wentworth's last win over Western New England came on October 3, 1998.
Western New England took a 14-11 lead in the first set before a 5-1 Leopard run gave the visitors a 16-15 lead after a kill from Rogoz. After freshman Kayla Chen (Irvine, Calif.) extended the lead to 17-15 with a kill, the Golden Bears scored the next three points to take an 18-17 lead. Wentworth responded with three of the next four points before the hosts tied the score at 20-all. A kill from sophomore Samantha Lassiter (Rogers, Ark.) gave the Black & Gold the lead for good and they would take the first set, 25-21.
The Leopards raced out to a 4-0 lead to start the second set, however Western New England scored the next six points to take a 6-4 lead. After six ties, a kill from sophomore Claire Quick (Mission Viejo, Calif.) started a 4-1 spurt with a kill, however, the Golden bears battled back to tie the set at 18-all. Wentworth scored the next three points, making it 21-18 but Western New England countered with the next four to take a 22-21 lead. An attack error tied the score at 22-all and Wentworth gave the point back with a service error. Trailing 23-22, Wentworth recorded three straight points, ending the set on a kill from Lassiter to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-23 win.
In the third set Wentworth jumped out to a 7-5 lead, however, Western New England came back to eventually take a 17-14 lead. Three straight Leopard points made it 17-16 after Chen served an ace but the Golden Bears extended their lead to 20-16 and kept the match alive with a 25-21 win.
Wentworth closed out the match with a 25-17 win in the fourth set. The Leopards scored the first three points of the set, but the lead was quickly erased by Western New England scoring the next three. Wentworth took a9-5 lead after a Rogoz kill before the Golden Bears battled back to tie the score at 12-all. Four straight points gave the Black & Gold the lead for good at 16-12 and they would extend their lead to 20-14 before scoring five of the final eight points in the set.
Lassiter finished with 10 kills and five blocks while Quick had 10 kills and 27 digs. Freshman Caroline Rupp (Sayville, N.Y.) had six kills and didn't make an error on 26 swings, sophomore Lexie Cambray (Bedford, N.H.) had 14 digs, and freshman Makenna Salsbury (Bel Air, Md.) finished with four blocks.
Wentworth hosts the University of New England on Tuesday.
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