North Dartmouth, MA --- Worcester State rallied in each of the three sets to sweep the UMass Dartmouth at the Tripp Athletic Center, 3-0.

The Lancers (3-0) were paced by senior Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) reached double digits in kills (10) to pace the visitors. Junior Jennifer Cabral (Swansea, MA) was one winner off the pace while sophomore Valerie Hoyle (Bridgewater, MA) turned in strong performance with seven kills and a .308 hitting percentage.

Sophomore Jamika Townsend (Virginia Beach, VA) dished out 15 assists as senior Amanda Lewis (Poughkeepsie, NY) handed out 13 helpers. Cabral led Worcester State with 16 digs.

Junior Jasmine Burris (New Bedford, MA) led UMass Dartmouth attack with 10 kills. Classmate Eliza Bowes (West Yarmouth, MA) recorded six winners, while sophomore Christina Spinazola (Medway, MA) handed out a game-high 20 assists. Junior Brianna Perry (Acushnet, MA) registered 25 digs as Burris and Bowes each dug out eight attempts.

In a nip and tuck opening set, neither team led by more than three points until UMass Dartmouth staked itself to a 17-13 advantage.

Worcester State whittled away its deficit by scoring four consecutive points to draw even at 22-22. The Corsairs regained their lead on a kill by UMD junior Kate McEachern (Wrentham, MA), but the Lancers recorded the final three points of the set—capped by a Hoyle winner.

The second and third sets were practically mirror images of the first. Sophomore Cara Butcher (E. Longmeadow, MA) gave the hosts' a 21-19 lead, but the Lancers rattled off three consecutive points. A service error by the visitors forged a 22-2 tie, but Worcester State strung together three straight kills to take the set.

In the final stanza, the Lancers outlasted the Corsairs 30-28.

UMass Dartmouth held a 19-14 advantage, but the visitors responded with four consecutive points before tying the match at 23-all. Either team was able to pull away, but Worcester State used a two-point surge highlighted by a kill by junior Meaghan Deighan (Lynnfield, MA) and a UMD attacking error to seal the victory.

UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 4 PM on Friday when the Corsairs host Eastern Nazarene in the opening round of the UMass Dartmouth Invitational. Worcester State takes on WPI in the first semifinal of the Worcester City Tournament at 10 AM.

Full Release Courtesy of UMass Dartmouth Sports Information

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