Duggan soars in Seahawks win over Endicott

NEWPORT, R.I. – Junior Jennifer Duggan (Merrimack, N.H.) sent home a career-high 20 kills to lead the Salve Regina women's volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over visiting Endicott in Commonwealth Coast Conference action, Wednesday night by set scores of 22-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19. With the win, the Seahawks become the only unbeaten team in conference play. 

Duggan smashed 10 of her 20 kills on the night in the second set to help the Seahawks win their first of the match. Down 19-15 in the second set, Duggan notched back-to-back kills to spring the Seahawks to a 4-0 run and tie the set at 19. After trading points, Duggan picked up another kill and got the ball at the service line for Salve Regina to finish out the set and hand the Seahawks a 25-22 win to force at least a fourth set.

Salve Regina raced out to a quick 13-6 lead in the third set before a kill from sophomore Lexi Watts (San Diego, Calif.) and a pair of service aces from freshman Erika Trudon (Coventry, Conn.) pulled the Gulls to within four, 13-9, but that would be as close as the Gulls would come in the third set. After a block from Duggan and sophomore Emily Lipinski (Hampden, Mass.) gave the Seahawks their first game point at 24-16 but the Gulls battled back for three straight points to pull within five at 24-19. A service error by the Gulls after a Seahawk timeout handed Salve Regina the 25-19.

The Seahawks raced out to a 9-1 lead in the fourth and decisive set before the Gulls used a 12-3 run to take its only lead of the set at 13-12. Junior Erin McGloin (West Islip, N.Y.) served three straight points for Salve Regina to extend its lead to 16-13. After going point-for-point, a kill from Duggan got her back to the service line once again as she served three points to cushion the Seahawks' lead, 20-15. The Gulls kept battling and seemed to have an answer for each Salve Regina point, but with their first match-point of the fourth set, senior Clare Adams (New Concord, Ohio) served up an ace to give the Seahawks just their second victory over Endicott in 16 matches.

The Gulls came out strong in the opening set and with the score tied 13-13, went on a 7-2 run to take a 20-5 lead and never really look back. Adams served four-straight points to cut the lead to 22-21, but the Gulls kept it close and took the first set after a Seahawk service error.

Duggan's 20 kills is the third highest kill total by a single player in Seahawk history and a career high for the junior outside hitter. Duggan added 14 digs on the day for her eighth double-double of the season. Adams led all players 20 digs in the match while junior Taylor Violet (Tiverton, R.I.) handed out 38 assists on the day.

Leading the Gulls' offense was sophomore Jackie Cone (Salem, N.H.) who had 18 kills on the day while Trudon notched 17 digs in the four sets. Sophomore Alleigh VandeMerket (Riverside, Ill.) handed out a match-high 42 assists on the day.

Endicott goes on to face UMass. – Boston and Colby-Sawyer in a tri-match at UMass. – Boston on Saturday while the Seahawks welcome Clark (Mass.) and Mass. Maritime to Rodgers Recreation Center for a tri-match on Saturday starting at 11 a.m.