Leopards Defeat Nichols to Improve to 6-2 in CCC Play

BOSTON, Mass. - The Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team picked up a key victory Saturday, defeating Nichols College 3-0 in CCC action.

RECORDS

• Wentworth (15-11, 6-2 CCC)
• Nichols (5-9, 1-5 CCC)

WENTWORTH STAT LEADERS:

• Kills – Devin Neal, 12; Riley Waggoner, 9; Helen Barthe, 6
• Assists – Lexi Zabloudil, 18; Ashley Cao, 15
• Digs – Viviann Goulet, 15; Helen Barthe, 8; Ashley Cao, 7; Lexi Zabloudil, 7
• Blocks – Devin Neal, 5; Riley Waggoner, 2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After trailing 3-1 early in the first set, the Leopards got a pair of kills from senior Devin Neal (Loveland, Ohio), who celebrated her senior day before the match. Junior Viviann Goulet (North Kingstown, R.I.), tacked on a kill, and sophomore Megan Davies (Chandler, Ariz.) added a service ace to draw even at four. After dropping two more points, Wentworth won eight of the next 10 to grab a 12-7 lead. Three kills by Bison hitter Regan Richard were part of a 9-4 run for the visitors that helped them tie the score at 16. After the teams traded points and were tied at 21 late, the Leopards got a kill and an ace from Neal, as well as a kill from freshman Helen Barthe (Blythewood, S.C.) as part of four straight points to end the set with a 25-21 victory.
• Junior Riley Waggoner (Simi Valley, Calif.), freshman Abby Maher (North Granby, Conn.) and Neal all picked up kills early in the second, as the Leopards jumped out to a 7-3 advantage. Three more kills from Waggoner, as well as two from Neal and two aces from Goulet were part of a 13-2 run for Wentworth midway through the set which helped them pull away. Maher gained two more kills late, and Neal finished off the second set with a kill as the Leopards cruised to a 25-11 win to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
• Eight straight points for the Leopards helped them recover from an early 4-2 deficit, which featured two more kills from Neal, who hit .550 on the day. Nichols eventually brought the Leopard lead down to four points, but two kills from freshman Lexi Zabloudil (London, Ohio) were part of a 5-1 run to build the lead up to eight. The Wentworth was able to hold it down from there, as they went on to a 25-17 win to close things out.

THE SERIES:

• This was the fifth time the two programs have met. The Leopards now hold a 5-0 lead all-time.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth finishes up the home portion of their schedule Wednesday, Oct. 27, when they host Endicott College at 7:00 p.m.

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