Posted: Oct 16, 2011
NEWTON, MA- Rivier College swept two straight matches in Saturday's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match hosted by Lasell College and featuring Saint Joseph College of Connecticut, to improve to 13-13 (9-1 GNAC) this season. The Lasers, who were celebrating their senior day during the events, split the pair of contests with a win over the Blue Jays, 3-0, and land at an 11-15 (3-4 GNAC) record. Saint Joseph was hit with two losses and slip to 6-17 (1-7 GNAC) this year.
Lasell's four senior women's volleyball players, Jenna Lynn Geary (Marion, MA), Meghan Crozier (Ballston Spa, NY), Danielle Drapeau (Biddeford, ME), and Eileen Barrett (Ludlow, MA) were honored pre-game of the third match for their four year careers as Lasers. Lasell College was also hosting their annual Family, Friends, and Alumni Weekend which brought a slew of onlookers to the events.
The Lasers started off with a sweep of Saint Joseph; 25-17, 25-21, 25-19. Sara Biondo (Coventry, RI) topped all hitters with 11 kills and surpassed all defenders with 12 digs, good for the only double-double of the match. Crozier added 28 assists and Stella Edwards (Quincy, MA) added nine kills and three service aces. Drapeau put away six kills and two blocks for Lasell while Geary contributed 11 digs.
The Blue Jays were led by two six-kill performances by Michelle DiPinto (Burlington, CT) and Ciara Perez (Manchester, CT). Three Blue Jays, Tabirtha Corte (Meriden, CT), Jessica Patrizi (Beacon Falls, CT), and Megan Williams (Lakeville, CT), collected eight digs apiece in the match. Patrizi also recorded 19 helpers in the three sets.
Rivier then tripped up Saint Joseph and Lasell with 3-0 wins across the board. The Raiders coasted to a 25-15, 25-14, 25-19 win over the Blue Jays and then continued to roll with a 25-13, 25-16, 26-24 defeat of the Lasers.
Kenna Finlayson (Derry, NH) was powerful at the net, swatting almost half (52) of the Raiders' total attacks (107) by herself. Out of the 52 swings she took, Finlayson earned points on 18, while also picking up 14 digs. Emileigh Cenedella (Townsend, MA) led all defensive specialists with 17 digs in the contest and setter Lauren Saccoccio (Warwick, RI) handed out 28 assists to her attackers.
For Lasell, Crozier added 26 assists to her belt while complimenting that with seven digs. Geary came up with 15 digs in the match, followed by Drapeau with 10. Drapeau and Alexis Chappell (Springfield, MA) guided the front line with eight and seven kills respectively.
The Lasers will continue to face GNAC opponents on Tuesday, October 18th against Johnson & Wales University at 7:00 p.m. in the Athletic Center.