UMass Boston captures first-ever Little East Conference Regular-Season Crown with sweep over Colonials and Anchorwomen
WestConn hosts tri-match with Rhode Island College and Beacons
BOX SCORE
DANBURY, CT (Oct. 31)— The WestConn women's volleyball team closed out the regular season with a Little East Conference tri-match with Rhode Island College and University of Massachusetts Boston on Senior Day at Feldman Arena.
The Colonials captured the first match against the Anchorwomen, 3-1. They prevailed, 25-22, 28-26, 20-25 and 25-22.
Against Rhode Island College, WestConn was paced by freshman Paxton Thornton (Sharon, CT) who had 17 kills. Becca Stein (Kingston, NY) added 12 kills for the winners.
Defensively, Kelley Collins (Massapequa, NY) patroled behind the attack line and finished with 25 digs for the Colonials, which go into the match with the Beacons at 25-6 overall and 5-1 in league play.
Dezz Hymes (Kingston, NY) tallied 44 assists in the four sets for the Colonials.
For the Anchorwomen, Tess Heidel (Warwick, RI) had a solid all-around performance with 12 kills, six blocks and 13 digs. Breanna Boyer (Central Falls, RI) led RIC with 17 kills and also had seven digs.
Kayln Archer (Warwick, RI) registered 12 kills and Jessica Ho (Providence, RI) tallied 24 assists in the loss.
The highlight of the opening march came in the second set, at 24-22, when the Colonials staved off defeat after RIC was whistled for a lift on what could have been match point. WestConn came back to win, 28-26. In that set, the score was tied 10 times, the last at 26-26.
In the middle of three matches, UMass Boston cruised to a three-set victory over Rhode Island College. The Beacons prevailed, 25-8, 25-12, 25-12.
UMass Boston was led by Kate McWhorter (Bakersfield, CA) registered a team-high 17 kills. Shannon Thompson (Moorpark, CA) had eight kills and three blocks for the winners.
Frana Burtness-Adams (Fairbanks, AK) came off the bench to record six aces for the Beacons.
Cassy Hanneman (Denver, CO) controlled the potent offense and doled out 27 assists for UMD.
For RIC against UMB, Boyer tallied seven kills while Ho handed out six assists and Corriveau registered four digs.
The day wrapped up with NEWVA's third ranked Beacons taking on 14th ranked WestConn.
UMass Boston captured its first-ever Little East Conference regular-season title with a 25-19, 25-23, 25-17 victory over the Colonials. The Beacons improve to 27-4 overall and went unscathed in league action at 7-0.
In the opening set, the Beacons raced out to a 12-5 advantage but the Colonials drew within two points, 19-17. UMass Boston ran off eight of the next 10 points for the victory.
Game two was much tighter throughout. After falling behind, 4-1, WestConn took its first lead at 6-5, then again at 12-11. The Beacons rattled off eight of the next nine points and built their biggest lead of the game, 20-12.
The Colonials tied the set at 23-23 on a block by Stein in the middle, but UMass Boston convertted the next two points for the win.
It was only the second time this season the Beacons failed to beat an opponent by fewer than three points. Eastern Connecticut dropped a 25-23 decision to UMB in the final set of a 3-0 loss back on September 26.
The finale went quickly as the Beacons built an eight-point bulge at 20-12 and never looked back.
Leading the way for UMass Boston were McWhorter with 14 kills. Sullivan added eight kills and three total blocks. Rossoll registered 16 digs while Thompson tallied four aces and three put backs at the net.
Collins had 24 digs and four aces to pace WestConn. Stein led the Colonials with 11 kills while Thornton was credited with nine kills. Sammie Hathaway (Milford, CT) returned to the starting line up and finished with 30 assists.
The Colonials, 25-7 overall and 5-2 in the LEC, will host Eastern Connecticut in the quarterfinals of the upcoming Little East Conference Tournament on Tuesday, November 3. Match time is slated for 7 pm at Feldman Arena.
Match One Leaders:
WCSU:
Becca Stein 12 kills
Paxton Thornton 17 kills
Dezz Hymes 44 assists
Kelley Collins 25 digs
RIC:
Tess Heidel 12 kills, 6 blocks, 13 digs
Jessica Ho 24 assists
Sharon Corriveau 7 kills, 7 digs
Breanna Boyer 17 kills, 7 digs
Match Two Leaders:
UMB:
Kate McWhorter 17 kills
Kate White 7 kills
Cassy Hanneman 27 assists
Bethany Rossoll 8 digs
Frana Burtness-Adams 6 aces
Shannon Thompson 8 kills and 3 blocks
Molly Rattigan 3 blocks
RIC:
Tess Heidel 12 kills, 6 blocks, 13 digs
Jessica Ho 24 assists
Sharon Corriveau 7 kills, 7 digs
Breanna Boyer 17 kills, 7 digs
Match Three Leaders:
WCSU:
Becca Stein
Paxton Thornton
Sammie Hathaway
Kelley Collins
UMB:
Kate McWhorter 14 kills
Cassy Hanneman 34 assists
Bethany Rossoll 16 digs
Shannon Thompson 9 kills
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