Seahawks win in five over Wildcats

Providence, R.I. – The Salve Regina University women's volleyball squad won a hard fought 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 16-25, 25-23, 15-11) decision against intra-state Johnson & Wales University in a non-conference contest at the Wildcat Center on Wednesday night.

The first set saw JWU take the early lead when they capitalized on a ball handling error from Salve Regina for the 10-5 lead.  The set was tied 15-15 after a Salve Regina service error.  The Wildcats then used a 6-2 run, capped by an error from the Seahawks for the 21-17 advantage.  JWU held on for the 25-22 win in set one for the 1-0 lead in the match.

In the second set, JWU held the 14-7 lead after a kill by senior Alyssa Drapeau (Biddeford, Maine.).  The Seahawks then used a 9-2 run and knotted the set 16-16 on a service ace by senior Jennifer Duggan (Merrimack, N.H.).  The set was tied 22-22 before Salve Regina closed out the set on a kill by Duggan for the 25-23 win in the set to knot the match at 1-1.

Set three had back and forth action with the score tied 8-8.  The Wildcats then used a 10-3 run, capped by a kill from freshman Alexis Sinclair (Hebron, N.H.) for the 19-11 lead.  JWU cruised to the 25-16 win to take the 2-1 advantage in the contest.

The fourth set had Salve Regina with the 10-5 lead after capitalizing on a JWU miscue.  JWU was able to even the game 23-23 after an attacking error by Salve.  It wouldn't be enough, however as the Seahawks closed out the 25-23 win to tie the match at 2-2.

The fifth and deciding set had JWU race out to the 7-2 lead on a kill by senior Lauren Cordts (Amherst, N.H.).  Salve Regina responded and tied the game 7-7 on a block by senior Katelyn Beauregard (Dartmouth, Mass.) and junior Emily Lipinski (Hampden, Mass.).    The Seahawks then closed out the match with an 8-4 run, including a pair of service aces from Duggan to take the 15-11 win and the set and the 3-2 match victory.

Cordts had a team high 13 kills and two blocks while Sinclair and junior Paula Cadavid (Pawtucket, R.I.) each had 10 kills in the setback for the Wildcats.  Junior Kellen Tensen (New Canaan, Conn.) notched a double-double with 42 set assists and 10 digs in the setback.

Duggan notched a team best 18 ills with 15 digs while senior Taylor Violet (Tiverton, R.I.) had 45 set assists and 14 digs in the victory for Salve Regina.

With the loss the Wildcats fall to 6-9 on the season while Salve Regina improves to 9-7 on the year. 

Salve Regina next plays on Saturday October 4 against Mount Holyoke as part of Fall Festival Weekend.