Women's Volleyball Protects First-Place Status with Sweep over Gordon

WENHAM, Mass. - The Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team protected its top-ranked status in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with a 3-0 sweep over Gordon College on Saturday afternoon inside the Bennett Center.

The Leopards, who ran their win streak to 15 games, improve to 21-2 overall, remain undefeated in conference play at 7-0, and will at minimum share the CCC Regular Season Title. A win on Tuesday evening would clinch the Title for the Leopards, as Wentworth hosts regionally-ranked Endicott in a highly anticipated match. Wentworth will honor its lone senior, Lillie Clark (Vista, Calif.) before first serve at 7:00 p.m., and the match can be viewed live at wentworthathletics.tv.   

With emotions high from their own senior day, Gordon went on a 5-1 run in the first set behind the consistent serve of Jenny Curtiss, but Wentworth caught fire behind leader Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.). Rogoz set the tone for the Leopards with a few blocks and kills midway through the first to put the Leopards back on top but not for long. The Scots and Leopards traded mini runs for the remainder of the set, having 10 lead changes and needing to go past the 25-point threshold to declare a winner. As the score continued to climb, the Scots and Leopards were tied at 27 each before Wentworth pulled away to take game one, 29-27. Wentworth used that momentum of the first set to propel them past the Scots in the second frame, never relinquishing the lead in a 25-11 victory to put the Leopards up 2-0.

Both teams traded points for the most part of the third with Gordon leading the Leopards 12-6 and looking to force a fourth, but Wentworth had other ideas with a comeback to take the 22-18 lead. Refusing to go quietly, the Scots recollected themselves to make things interesting, tying the visitors at 22, but in the end the Leopards closed out the final few points to claim the last set, 25-22, and the match.

Rogoz paced Wentworth's offense with 13 kills and just missed a double-double with nine digs, while junior Samantha Lassiter (Rogers, Ark.) was closed behind on 11 kills with a blistering .562 attack percentage.  Classmate Lexie Cambray led a solid effort on the reception with 10 digs, while Katie Clouse (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) and Maddy Tomastik (Portland, Ore.) dished out 16 and 15 assists, respectively. Clark joined Rogoz, Clouse and freshman Mary Zlotosch (Durham, N.H.) with two aces apiece, while Clark has now recorded at least one service ace in 14 straight games.

Wentworth closes out its conference season on Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m. match at home against Endicott.

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