NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell University women's volleyball team was swept by Northern Vermont University-Johnson 3-0 in a non-conference match on Saturday afternoon in the Athletic Center. The Lasers drop to 4-11 on the season and the Badgers improve to 8-6.
Sophomore Kiana Perez Diaz (Juncos, P.R.) led all players with 12 kills on the match along with nine digs. Sophomore Corina Lombardi (York, Maine) contributed with five efficient kills of her own. For the Badgers, senior Nikola Knapova (Presov, Slovakia) was dominant with six kills and two critical service aces.
The first set began in favor of the Badgers. They started with a commanding 6-1 lead. The Lasers cut it close when they tied up the match at 16-16. At 23-20, Porsche Johnson (Dallas, Texas) ripped a kill out of the middle and the Badgers went on to score two more to finish off the set 25-21.
The second set was close for the majority of the match but NVU-Johnson never trailed after the 2-0 mark early on in the set. They went on to win 25-19.
After a slow start by the Lasers in the third set, leaving them behind 16-12, the home team found a way to jump back into the set and tie the score at 18-18. A service ace from junior Katie Schneider (Covina, Calif.) gave the Lasers the lead. All squared up at 27-27, a kill by Knapova and an error from the Lasers wrapped up the set at 29-27 for the visitors.
The Lasers look to bounce back next weekend October 4-5 when they play in the Skidmore College Classic in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The Badgers play at Plattsburgh on Tuesday, October 1st at 6:00.