Seniors shine versus Saints

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina University women's volleyball team defeats Emmanuel College 3-1 in a non-conference match on Thursday night inside the Rodgers Recreation Center.

Salve Regina took the first set 25-23 before dropping the second 20-25. The Seahawks would win the third set 25-16 and after surrendering a five point lead, would come back to win the fourth and final set 25-22. It was the first home match for the Seahawks to go longer than three sets this season.

Before the action began the Seahawks honored six seniors playing in their final regular season home match. Katelyn Beauregard (Dartmouth Mass.), Jennifer Duggan (Merrimack, N.H.), Tara Kuck (Huntington, N.Y.), Erin McGloin (West Islip, N.Y.), Dianna Tauro (Melrose, Mass.), and Taylor Violet (Tiverton, R.I.) were all honored with a pregame ceremony.

The first set was a back and forth affair with neither team holding more than a five point lead. Salve Regina led 22-17 and was on its way to taking the set but a 5-1 answer put the Saints back in the game. A Service error by Quincie Varin (Coventry, R.I.) however gave Salve Regina back the serve and set point. Two plays later Duggan spiked home her fourth kill and gave the Seahawks the 25-23 edge in set number one.

The Seahawks got out to a 7-4 lead in the second set but a 10-2 run by the Saints gave Emmanuel control of the set. The Seahawks would battle to pull within three at 20-17 but a 4-0 answer gave the Saints set point. The Seahawks managed a 3-0 spurt but had the comeback fall short as Brittany Tutalo (Johnston, R.I.) was able to close out the set for Emmanuel.

The Seahawks never trailed in the third set and took an early 11-4 lead with junior Chrissy Fraga (Milford, Mass.) at the service stripe. The Seahawks led comfortably and were able to cruise to a 25-16 win to take a 2-1 advantage.

The Seahawks came out on fire in the third and took a 13-6 lead before the Saints slowly but surely began to chip away at the lead.  After drawing within three the Seahawks were able to distance themselves again with a 5-3 run to lead 19-14. The Saint then answered with a 6-0 run with senior Christine Durkee (Salem, Conn.) at the line to take a 20-19 lead forcing Salve Regina head coach Lauren Parsons to call for time to rally the troops.

Out of the timeout the Seahawks responded calmly with a 6-2 run to close out the set on a Taylor Violet ace sealing the 3-1 victory for Salve Regina.

Jennifer Duggan notched a double-double with 12 digs and a team leading 18 kills. Beauregard and McGloin chipped in 10 kills apiece while Salve Regina had four players with double digit digs led by senior libero Dianna Tauro with 19. Taylor Violet recorded 44 assists, two aces, seven digs, and a block assist.

The Saints were led by Shannon Dudley (Morro Bay, Calif.) who totaled 31 assists, 15 digs, and a kill. Libero Cara Callahan (Medway, Mass.) led with 18 digs and Brittany Tutalo was the Saints kills leader with eleven.

The Saints, now 21-11 on the season, will wrap up their regular season on November 1 with a double header on the road versus Suffolk University and Norwich University.

The Seahawks will finish the regular season on the road on November 1 versus the University of New England before returning home for the beginning of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) playoffs. Currently the Seahawks hold the third seed and would host a quarterfinal match on Tuesday November 4.