BOSTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team picked up a pair of non-conference victories to run its win streak to six matches as the Leopards defeated Rhode Island College, 3-1, and Mass. Maritime, 3-0.
WENTWORTH 3, RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE 1
In the first match of the day, the Leopards were led by sophomore Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.) who posted a double-double with 21 kills and 14 digs, while also adding five block assists. Sophomore Claire Quick (Mission Viejo, Calif) added a double-double of her own with 10 kills and 24 digs, while also serving a pair of aces. Sophomore Samantha Lassister (Rogers, Ark.) hit nearly .600 by adding 13 kills and committing just two errors on 19 swings while also recording three block assists. Sophomore setters Maddy Tomastik (Portland, Ore.) and Katie Clouse (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) combined for 53 assists, six service aces, and 15 digs.
The opening set was a back and forth battle from the start and featured 11 ties. Freshman Caroline Rupp (Sayville, N.Y.) got the Leopards on the board with a kill but Rhode Island College earned the point right back on a Wentworth service error. The teams traded points until junior Lillie Clark (Vista, Calif.) stepped to the service line, and served two aces, while the Anchorwomen also committed a pair of errors which gave the hosts a 10-7 lead. The teams continued to battle with neither team able to go on a run. With the score tied at 22-all, the Leopards were able to get back-to-back kills from Lassiter and Rogoz, forcing a Rhode Island College timeout. The Anchorwomen took the next two points on a kill from Jessica Brielmaier (West Greenwich, R.I.) a Wentworth attack error, but a kill by Rupp, and a block from Rogoz and freshman Makenna Salsbury (Bel Air, Md.) gave the Leopards the first set win, 26-24.
Neither team was able to go on a run in the early part of the second set, a set which featured eight ties. With the score knotted at 12-all, Wentworth broke the tie with five straight points and took a 17-12 lead on the second consecutive ace served by Quick. Out of a Rhode Island College timeout, the Anchorwomen used a 9-3 run and took a 21-20 lead after a Wentworth attack error. A Rogoz ace tied the set at 21-all, and, after a service error gave the point back to the Anchorwomen, a kill from Quick tied the score at 22-all. Wentworth was unable to regain the lead, however, as Rhode Island College took the second set, 25-23 after a kill from junior Jillian Ward (Coventry, R.I.).
Wentworth took a 2-1 lead with a 25-18 win in the third set, a set which the Leopards never trailed. Wentworth took a 2-0 lead to open the frame when Lassiter and Quick combined for a block and Clouse served an ace and extend its lead to 6-2 on a sophomore Lexie Cambray (Bedford, N.H.) service ace. Rhode Island College battled back and tied the score at 11-all, however, kills from Lassiter and Quick gave the hosts a lead they would not relinquish. Rhode Island College pulled within a point five times, including at 17-16, but Wentworth went on an 8-2 run to close the set, finishing with back-to-back kills from Rogoz.
The fourth set opened with Rhode Island College scoring first on a Leopard attack error and would see the score tied four times until a 6-0 run gave Wentworth a 10-4 lead. The Leopards extended their lead to 17-7 on an ace from Clark. Rhode Island College would get within five points on two occasions, including at 19-14, however four straight points from the Black & Gold extended the lead to 20-14 and the hosts picked up a 25-17 win to take the match.
WENTWORTH 3, MASS. MARITIME 0
Sophomore Abigail Ahern (Barrington, N.H.) recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs to go along with three aces to pace the Leopards to their fourth tri-match sweep of the season. Salsbury added nine kills and three blocks while Tomastik and freshman Kayla Chen (Irvine, Calif.) combined for 33 assists, three aces, and seven digs. Clark chipped in with 25 digs and four aces and senior Jordan Young (Derry, N.H.) had six kills and did not make an error on 12 swings.
In the first set, the Leopards raced out to a 6-0 start after three kills from Quick, a service ace from Ahern, and a kill apiece from Clark and senior Caroline Shea (Abington, Mass.). Two errors by the Leopards put the Buccaneers on the board but they were unable to go on a run, as Wentworth scored seven of the next 10 points on a series of errors by Mass. Maritime, as well as on a kill by Shea, a kill and a service ace by Chen, and kill from Quick. After an attack error made it 13-5, Wentworth went on a 10-0 run and took a 23-5 lead with Clark serving nine straight points. After a setting error gave a point to Mass. Maritime, Ahern recorded back-to-back kills to end the set, 25-6.
A pair of Wentworth attack errors gave the Buccaneers a 2-0 lead to open the second set, and, after a kill from Young evened the score at 6-all, freshman Caroline Rupp (Sayville, N.Y.) stepped to the line and served four straight points to make it 10-6. A Mass. Maritime kill made it 10-7 and Young got the point back with another kill. From there, Clark stepped to the line and served nine points, including back-to-back aces, to extend the lead to 20-7 before Wentworth took a 2-0 lead with a 25-11 win.
The third set saw the Leopards race out to a 7-0 lead on a kill and an ace from Ahern, a kill from Rupp, and a pair of kills from Salsbury. A kill from Young gave the Leopards a 13-4 lead and sent Rupp to the service line for eight straight points to make it 21-4. This run included a pair of kills from Ahern, and a pair of kills from Young. Mass. Maritime scored four of the next five points to make it 22-8, however three of the next four points – coming on a kill from Salsbury, a kill from senior Katelyn Carlson (Stratford, Conn.), and an Ahern ace, closed out the match with a 25-9 win.
Wentworth (19-2) continues its homestand on Tuesday night against Gordon.
For the latest on Wentworth Athletics, follow the Leopards via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Wentworth Leopards "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
