Seahawks split with Golden Eagles and Anchorwomen

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina University women's volleyball team split it's matches Saturday as host of a Tri-Match with Rhode Island College and St. Joseph's of Long Island. 

The Seahawks won their match with Rhode Island College in thrilling fashion to open the day with set scores of 18-25, 26-24, 28-26, and 25-18.

After dropping the opening set the Seahawks trailed the Anchorwomen 20-16 and 24-20 before a kill from Emily Lipinski (Hampden, Mass.), sparked a 6-0 run to win the set. The final five points of the set came with sophomore Samantha Salwa (Ellington, Conn.) at the service stripe.

Rhode Island College pulled away again in the third set but could not hold the lead, as the Seahawks were able to erase a 22-16 deficit and tie the set 24-24 all on an error by Emily Langlais (West Warwick, R.I.). The teams traded the lead until back-to-back errors gave Salve Regina a 28-26 victory.

The Seahawks jumped out to an early lead and never trailed in the fourth set. Rhode Island College drew within two points at 14-12 but the Seahawks were able to stay comfortably ahead en rout to the 25-18 set win, and 3-1 match victory. 

Mackenzie Donald (Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.) led the Seahawks in kills with 12, while Salwa notched 35 assists, and senior Chrissy Fraga (Milford, Mass.) recorded 20 digs. Junior Kat Mendes (New Bedford, Mass.) chipped in with 15 digs, nine kills, three aces, and two assists.

The Anchorwomen were led by Kelsey Lace (Glendale, R.I.) who tallied 11 kills and 22 digs while sophomore Abigayl White (Coventry, R.I.) totaled 29 assists and Jillian Ward registered five service aces.

In the middle match of the afternoon Rhode Island College took on St. Joseph's of Long Island. The teams split the first two sets but the Anchorwomen won the last two to claim a 3-1 victory with set scores of 25-17, 25-23, 25-16, and 25-20, for their first win of the season.

Lace again paced RIC with 16 kills and 14 digs. White had match high 28 assists while Megan Armburg (Swansea, Mass.) led all players with 20 digs.

The Golden Eagles suffered their first defeat of the season and were led in kills by Heather Ferchland (Selden, N.Y.) and Kiersten Kissinger (Islip Terrace, N.Y.), Courtney Wickline (Medford, N.Y.) with 22 assists and 16 digs, while Calire Urizzo (Meford, N.Y.) totaled four service aces.

The Seahawks squared off against the Golden Eagles in the final match, a 3-0 sweep for St. Joseph's by set scores of 25-23, 25-18, and 25-20.

The Seahawks trailed 5-1 but tied the set at 16. Salve Regina held a 23-22 lead late but kills from AnneMarie Taggart (Wading River, N.Y.) and Ferchland coupled with a Mendes error gave the Golden Eagles the first set.

The Seahawks jumped on top early in the second leading 4-1 but surrendered 10 of the next 11 points to the Golden Eagles. Despite a 5-1 run late, the Seahawks could never get within more than five points of the visitors.

The Seahawks were again able to rally from an early deficit and take a lead that they held until it was 17-14 in favor of Salve Regina. However the Golden Eagles closed the set, and the match, on an 11-3 run. The Seahawks committed four errors to close the match giving St. Joseph's the sweep.

The Seahawks were led by Salwa with 24 assists, Higgins who notched 10 kills, and Fraga with 13 digs.

Kissinger again led the Golden Eagles in kills with 14, while Erin Kelly ( Ridge, N.Y.) totaled 14 digs. Wickline added 33 assists for the visitors as well.

All three teams went 1-1 on the day putting Salve Regina and St. Joseph's at 2-1 overall while Rhode Island College earns their first victory to improve to 1-2 on the season.

The Seahawks will be back in action on Tuesday September 8 when they host UMass Dartmouth at 7 p.m.