Freshmen help lead Seahawks to 3-1 victory over Babson in season opener

NEWPORT, R.I. - Freshman Jennifer Duggan (Merrimack, N.H.) led all players with 15 kills while also collecting eight digs and two blocks in her collegiate debut to help spark the Salve Regina University women's volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Babson College in their season opener at the Rodgers Recreation Center on Thursday night. The Seahawks took the first set by a score of 25-16 before the Beavers battle back to scratch out a hard-fought 28-26 win in the second set. Salve Regina then regained control of the match by taking the final two sets by scores of 25-18 and 25-16.

In addition to Duggan, freshmen Dianna Tauro (Melrose, Mass.) and Taylor Violet (Tiverton, R.I.) also enjoyed impressive collegiate debuts. Tauro tied for the team-lead in digs with 13, while Violet had a match-high 25 assists on the night. Sophomore Clare Adams (New Concord, Ohio) had a strong all-around performance compiling 13 digs, nine kills, and a pair of aces, while senior Julianne Barry led all players with nine blocks, including five solo and four assisted.

The Beavers were paced by senior Meg Flaherty (Hollis, N.H.) who had 11 kills and six digs, while junior Kathleen Lynch (Quincy, Mass.) had 11 digs and dished-out a team-best 23 assists. Junior Karla Flores (San Juan, P.R.) served her way to a match-high four aces, while sophomore Cristina Fernandez (Ridgefield, Conn.) had six kills, five digs, and two aces in a losing effort.

In the first set, Salve Regina held a slight 9-7 advantage before exploding for seven straight points, including an ace by Tauro and a pair of assisted blocks by Barry, to build a 16-7 lead. The nine-point edge held up the rest of the way as the Seahawks took the first set by a score of 25-16.

The second set was a terrific battle, as the Beavers took advantage of some early miscues by the Seahawks to jump out to an 11-6 lead.

However, the Seahawks came right back with an 8-1 run, including a pair of kills and an assisted block by Barry, to take the lead, 14-12.

With the score knotted at 19-all, the Beavers rallied for five consecutive points to take a 24-19 advantage, only to watch the Seahawks counter with six straight points to regain the lead, 25-24.

With the score tied at 26-all, the Beavers finally managed to wrestle the second set away from Seahawks by scoring two straight points, including an ace by Flores to earn a 28-26 win.

The Seahawks then bounced back to take the final two sets. Trailing 16-14 in the third set, Salve Regina rallied to outscore the Beavers 11-2 the rest of the way to earn a 25-18 victory, and then jumped out to an early 13-5 lead in the fourth set before cruising to a 25-16 win.

The Seahawks (1-0) will return to action on Tuesday when they host UMass-Dartmouth at 7:00 p.m., while the Beavers return to the court on Saturday to battle MCLA in the Norwich Tournament starting at 11:30 a.m.