Seahawks battle past Warriors in ECAC tourney

NEWPORT, R.I. - Sophomore Jennifer Duggan (Merrimack, N.H.) recorded a double-double, compiling a team-high 19 kills to go along with 17 digs while leading the fifth-seeded Salve Regina women's volleyball team to a 3-2 (27-25, 25-21, 16-25, 19-25, 15-8) victory over No.4 Eastern Connecticut State in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) quarterfinals at the Rodgers Recreation Center on Thursday night. The win marked the Seahawks first-ever triumph over the Warriors as well as their first ECAC Championship tournament victory, improving to 18-14 on the year. The Warriors complete their season with an overall mark of 19-14.

Duggan added to her single season team record for kills by notching 19 kills against nine errors. Sophomore Taylor Violet (Tiverton, R.I.) led all players with 43 assists while Megan Clancy (Chelmsford, Mass.) had  a team-high 28 digs. Sophomore Clare Adams (New Concord, Ohio) had a nice all-around game, providing 11 kills, 13 digs, three blocks, and two aces, while sophomore Erin McGloin (West Islip, N.Y.) compiled 10 kills and a team-best six blocks in the win.

The Warriors were paced by senior Katie Wilson (Pittsburg, Calif.) who led all players with 23 kills and eight blocks while also adding 13 digs and a team-high three aces. Senior Danielle Bourne (Branford, Conn.) and junior Nicki Gasch (New Fairfield, Conn.) recorded 12 and 10 kills, respectively, while sophomore Allie Henry (Middletown, Conn.) dished-out a team-best 22 assists on the night.

The two teams battled to a 12-all tie out of the gate, foreshadowing how closely contested the entire match would be. The Warriors then erupted for an 8-1 run, including three kills by Wilson, to grab a 20-13 lead. After a strategic timeout by Salve Regina head coach Lauren Parsons, the Seahawks rallied back with an 8-1 run of their own, tying the score at 21-21. With the score knotted at 25, the Seahawks took the next two points, including a kill by Violet to earn the opening set, 27-25.

In the second frame, the Warriors raced-out to an 8-3 advantage, receiving three aces from Wilson. As they continued to do all night, the Seahawks bounced back, scoring five straight points behind the hot serving of senior Sarah Showalter (East Lyme, Conn.) to tie the score at eight-all. With the game still tied 20-20 late in the set, the Seahawks took five of the next six points, clinching the frame on an ace from Adams, 25-21.

Midway through the third set, the score was tied 13 apiece. The Warriors then erupted for 11 consecutive points, capitalizing off of several Salve Regina errors on their way to a 25-16 third set victory.

The two clubs continued to battle in the fourth set, clawing to a 16-16 tie. The Warrior then took control with four straight points, including a pair of aces by Bourne, to grab a 20-16 lead. Eastern Connecticut went on to close the frame 25-19 with a second 4-0 run, including three kills by Gasch to push the match into a deciding fifth set.

After dropping each of the last two sets, the Seahawks responded by jumping out to an 8-3 lead in the final set, led by two blocks and a kill from junior Jill Diffendaffer (Centennial, Colo.). After the two teams switched sides, the Warriors closed the gap to 8-5 by taking two straight points. The Seahawks were still clinging to a three-point advantage at 10-7 when they cemented the match by taking five of the next six points, including a game-clinching kill by Duggan to earn the set, 15-8, and the match, 3-2.

The Seahawks advance to play the winner of No.1 Brandeis versus No.8 Albertus Magnus this Saturday. If Brandeis wins, the Seahawks will travel to face the Judges on their home court. If Albert Magnus wins, the Seahawks and Falcons will play at No.3 Keene State.