WESTON, Mass. - The Worcester State University volleyball team split a doubleheader Saturday afternoon in a non-conference tri-match at Higgins Court. The Lancers opened with a 3-0 loss to WPI, before defeating the hosts from Regis College 3-1. Set scores against WPI were 25-15, 25-15, and 25-19, while against the Pride they were 25-17, 25-14, 19-25, 25-16.
With the split, the Lancers move to 11-7 overall on the season.
The Lancers struggled for offense in their opening match of the afternoon, with 26 attack errors and just 25 kills in the match. Senior Amari King (Lawrence, Mass.) was the leading Lancer with six kills, while Megan Leavens (Storrs, Conn.) had a team-high 11 digs. WPI's Sarah Kwatinetz led all players with seven kills and six blocks in the victory.
In its second match of the day, Worcester State was able to bring down Regis. The Pride's Katryna Veasey (Quincy, Mass.) notched a double-double with 13 kills and 16 digs, plus she earned five service aces. Tori Ondris (Mineola, N.Y.) finished with 19 assists and nine digs, Emily Fagundo (Dover, N.H.) contributed 15 assists, and van der Meulen moved into the libero position and led the Pride with 18 digs.
King also notched a double-double to lead Worcester State, finishing with 13 kills and 19 digs along with three service aces and three block assists. Stephanie Chapin (Hampden, Mass.), Leelle Tyler (Longmeadow, Mass.), and Lauren Murphy (Taunton, Mass.) earned nine kills apiece as setter Allie Nolan (Melrose, Mass.) earned 40 assists along with four service aces, and Leavens led all players in the match with 23 defensive digs.
Regis scored five of the first six points of the match on its way to a 9-4 lead before Worcester State rebounded with five straight points, including consecutive kills by Murphy. After Regis took a 16-15 lead on a kill by Rachel Bartels (Edinburg, Texas), the Lancers went on a 10-1 run to close out the first set, featuring three service aces by Nolan.
Worcester State put together a 9-1 scoring run early in the second set, starting with a kill and a service ace by Chapin, to open a 13-6 advantage. Regis closed to within four at 14-10, but the Lancers once again pulled away, going on an 11-4 scoring run to close out the second set, punctuated by consecutive kills from King and a service ace by Brooke Lamothe (Tewksbury, Mass.).
The Lancers scored four of the first five points of the third set, but Regis responded with an 11-3 scoring run to take a 12-7 lead. Worcester State eventually tied the set at 16-16, but the Pride answered back with a 9-3 run to finish off the set, with kills by Kate Flemming (Woburn, Mass.) and Samantha Turner (Concord, N.H.) allowing Regis to extend the match.
Caroline Fuentes (Downey, Calif.) earned four straight service aces as Regis opened the fourth set with six of the first seven points, but the Lancers came right back with five straight points to tie the set. After falling behind 13-9, Worcester State scored 12 unanswered points, led by Tyler with three kills. Tyler would also account for the Lancers' final two points of the match with her eighth and ninth kills of the contest.
Next up for the Lancers, they'll play at Salem State on Tuesday night. Regis (8-10) concludes its seven-match homestand Tuesday, Oct. 9, against Brandeis beginning at 6 p.m. at Higgins Court.
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Release courtesy of Regis College Sports Information.