NEWTON, Mass. (9/13/16/) – The Lasell women's volleyball team fell to the visiting Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology in straight sets, 3-0, on Tuesday evening in the Athletic Center. The Lasers dip to 3-2 overall while the Leopards advance to 7-1.
Leading the offense for the Lasers was sophomore Olivia Addington (Orange, Calif.) who registered a match-high 12 kills and eight digs. Junior Meredeith Eagan (North Andover, Mass.) followed with six kills, while the GNAC's Libero of the Week Caitlyn Garcia (Moreno Valley, Calif.) hit the floor for 19 digs. Junior setter Taylor Tiezzi (Meriden, Conn.) also added 24 assists in the effort.
Freshman Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.) paced Wentworth with eight kills and 12 digs to extend the Leopards' successful season. Sophomore libero Lillie Clark (Vista, Calif.) was a defensive force on the floor with 19 digs, while freshman setter Katie Clouse (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) served up 13 assists.
The Leopards took an early stance in the first set as junior Katelyn Carlson (Stratford, Conn.) pushed the visitors to 11-5, highlighted by two service aces. Addington carried the Lasers into double digits at 17-10 with an executed kill from junior Lauren Piper (Scarborough, Maine) but the Leopards used a 6-1 run to close out set one, 25-12.
Clouse and Clark secured another early advance for the Leopards on the service line and combined for seven opening points. Leading 21-12, Rogoz continued Wentworth's closing dominance and served up three straight points, as Samantha Lassiter (Rogers, Ark.) jumped up to give WIT a 2-0 match lead and a 25-13 set victory.
Lasell switched gears in the final set of the evening and combined for 13 kills to WIT's 11. The two teams battled point-for-point, as Tiezzi's opening service ace set the Lasers up for a later 6-2 lead led by Eagan and junior Michele Canestro (Castleton, N.Y.). The Leopards chipped away at the score to stay in it, as Clouse gave WIT the go-ahead signal with four converted serves. Error trouble plagued the Lasers in the final rallies of the evening, as Lassiter again came in to close the set 25-21.
The Lasers will cap a two-game homestand on Thursday when they host Rhode Island College at 7:00 p.m., while the Leopards welcome Lesley and Worcester State for a Saturday afternoon tri-match with first serve slated for 11:00 a.m.
