Seahawks cruise past Corsairs; even season record at 3-3

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Senior Erin McGloin (West Islip, N.Y.) recorded a game-high eight kills to power Salve Regina University to a 3-0 victory over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth this evening in a NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball match at the Tripp Athletic Center.  The Seahawks cruised to a 25-15, 25-12, and 25-23 win to even their season record at 3-3.

McGloin led Salve Regina with eight kills on 16 swings to post a 50.0 hitting percentage, while classmate Katelyn Beauregard (Dartmouth, Mass.) registered seven winners.  Senior Taylor Violet (Tiverton, R.I.) handed out 17 assists, while classmates Dianna Tauro (Melrose, Mass.) and Jennifer Duggan (Merrimack, N.H.) combined for 38 digs with 20 and 18, respectively.

In the first set, the Seahawks scored eight of the first 10 points, including a six-point run, to race out to an 8-2 lead.  The visitors used a well-balanced attack as four different student-athletes recorded a kill during the decisive streak.  Salve Regina stretched its advantage to a set-high 12 points (23-11) before taking the opener 25-15.

The Corsairs opened the second stanza with a slim 2-1 lead, but the Seahawks answered with seven straight points to build an 8-2 advantage.  The hosts whittled their deficit to five points (9-4), but Salve Regina strung together three consecutive markers to regain the momentum.  The visitors were able to maintain a comfortable advantage for the remainder of the set and cruised to a 13-point win.    

UMass Dartmouth would not go quietly on its home court, jumping out to a four-point advantage at 12-8 in set No. 3. The Seahawks were able to forge a 14-all tie, but the Corsairs scored three consecutive markers to spark a visitor's timeout.  Salve Regina responded with six of the next eight points to regain its advantage.  A sophomore Cara Butcher (East Longmeadow, Mass.) kill leveled the game at 23-all, but the visitors registered a winner and benefitted from a bad set to seal the three-set win.

Junior Shannon Orton (Swansea, Mass. / Joseph Case) paced UMass Dartmouth with six kills on 24 attempts, while sophomore Christina Spinazola (Medway, Mass.) dished out 15 helpers.  Junior Brianna Perry (Acushnet, Mass. / New Bedford) and classmate Jasmine Burris (New Bedford, Mass. / Greater New Bedford) combined for 33 digs with 18 and 15 respectively.

Salve Regina will next play Wheaton College this Friday at home in the Rodgers Recreation Center as part of the Ocean State Classic. That game is slated for a 3 p.m. start.