Seahawks prevail against Scots; advance to semifinals

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina University women's volleyball team will advance to the semifinal round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) playoffs after defeating Gordon College 3-1 inside Rodgers Recreation Center on Tuesday evening.

The Seahawks and Scots were locked in a tight battle, swapping closely decided sets to open the match before Salve Regina was able to win two sets in a row for the 25-22, 18-25, 25-14, 25-21 victory.

Both teams entered the match on winning streaks. Salve Regina had won three in a row to end the regular season while Gordon had won four in a row including two conference matches that gave the Scots a berth into the playoffs. Despite being swept 3-0, Gordon gave Salve Regina a fight earlier in October and tonight would be no different from a team playing win-or-go-home volleyball for two weeks running. 

The sixth seeded Scots took an early 6-3 lead off a kill by Jessica Burdick (Brewerton, N.Y.) but the Seahawks answered with a 7-1 run to take the lead off a Chrissy Fraga (Milford, Mass.) ace and force a Gordon timeout.

Out of the timeout Fraga recorded her second service, giving the Seahawks their largest lead of the set. The Scots calmly answered however with a 7-2 run to recapture the lead forcing Salve Regina head coach Lauren Parsons to call for time.

The second set was one of runs as once again Gordon took a 6-3 lead to open the set and was able to maintain and expand upon it. The Seahawks found themselves trailing 12-6 and 15-9 before Parsons called for time to try and stop the run. The Seahawks came out strong from the timeout able to pull within two, 16-14, after Violet and Katelyn Beauregard (Dartmouth, Mass.) teamed up to block a Laura Schmidt (Stuart, Fla.) shot.  The Scots managed a 4-0 run to distance themselves but the Seahawks came right back with a 4-1 run to draw within three at 21-18. The Scots then ended the set of a 4-0 run capped by a Burdick kill. It was the first set Gordon had won over Salve Regina since 2008. 

Salve Regina's best set was the third. Not wanting to let momentum swing any farther in favor of the Scots the Seahawks came out aggressive and on fire.  An attack error gave Salve Regina the opening point and put Violet at the service line where she would serve for five straight points and a 6-0 advantage to begin the pivotal set. The Scots slowly chipped away at the lead with quick runs and drew within 8-10. Salve Regina responded with a 7-2 run including three kills from Duggan.  The Seahawks remained in control and were able to take the set 25-14.

Facing elimination Gordon gave Salve Regina everything they could handle in a wild fourth set.  Again it was the Scots who started fast and jumped out to a 7-3 lead. Then an Erin McGloin (West Islip, N.Y.) kill brought Kat Mendes (New Bedford, Mass.) to the service stripe. Trailing 4-7 Mendes served for a 7-0 run by the Seahawks including three more Duggan kills and an ace to retake the lead.  The teams then swapped 3-0 runs to make it 14-11 in favor of Salve Regina.

All night whenever one team seemed poised to run away with a set, the other would come back. This time it was Salve Regina who was able to build an 18-13 and seemingly grab control of the match. However the Scots would not go quietly. With their season hanging in the balance Gordon mounted an 8-3 run and seemed on the verge of forcing a fifth and deciding set. 

However the Seahawks veteran lineup rose to the occasion and overcame the pressure and the Scots with a 4-1 run to close out the set and the match.

Taylor Violet racked up a match leading 36 assists, two aces, six digs, a block assist, and three kills. Duggan tallied a match-high 18 kills to go with 11 digs, an ace, and a blocked shot. Senior libero Dianna Tauro (Melrose, Mass.) and Chrissy Fraga both led the Seahawks with 18 digs.

The Scots were led Joy Kimmel who notched 22 assists, 11 digs, four kills, and two aces. Libero Maggie Risma (Hudon, Ohio) led all players in digs with 24.  Laura Schmidt was the kills leader for the Scots with nine.

Gordon's season ends with the loss as they finish 14-14.

For Salve Regina, it is their seventh straight victory over Gordon as they advance to the semifinal round of the CCC playoffs.

Salve Regina will be in action again on Thursday November 6 on the road against the second seeded Golden Bears of Western New England.