CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University used set scores of 25-21, 25-23, and 25-17 to sweep UMass-Dartmouth this evening in non-conference action at Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols. With their sixth win in the last seven matches, the Lynx improve to 12-3 on the season while the Corsairs fall to 10-14 in 2014.
Lesley used a balanced attack as five players recorded five or more kills. Freshman Ciara Bruning (Centerville, Mass.) led the charge as she finished with eight kills while swinging .353 on the evening. Senior Danielle Johnson (Waterford, Conn.) and junior Melisa Randall (Fremont, Calif.) each finished with seven kills while freshman Annie Abbruzzese (Croton on Hudson, N.Y.) connected for six kills. Junior setter Emily Marden (Fremont, Calif.) finished with a match-high 28 assists while also chipping in with five kills of her own. Randall and Johnson added 16 digs and 12 digs, respectively to anchor the defense that limited the guests to a 0.66 hitting percentage on the night.
Leading the way for UMass-Dartmouth was junior Eliza Bowes (W. Yarmouth, Mass.) who nailed down eight kills while classmate Shannon Orton (Swansea, Mass.) finished with seven in the loss. Junior libero Brianna Perry (Acushnet, Mass.) led all players with 28 digs on the defensive side while sophomore setter paced the offense with a team-high 20 assists.
All three sets were tightly contested by both sides. Trailing 11-10, the Lynx rattled off eight straight points to claim an 18-11 advantage, a lead they would not relinquish. The streak was powered by the serve of Randall, who recorded two of her match-best three aces on the night.
Lesley held a 21-15 edge late in the second before UMass-Dartmouth went on a 5-0 run capped by a kill from junior Katie McEachern (Wrentham, Mass.) to pull within one. Bruning put an end to the Corsair's streak with a kill from the middle as the Lynx staved off the visitors' comeback attempt to take a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-23 second set win.
The Lynx continued their momentum and never trailed in the third as they rolled to the 25-17 set win to complete the 3-0 sweep. Randall and Johnson each recorded three kills to power to hosts offense in the final set.
The Lynx have a quick turnaround as they are back in action tomorrow night as they travel to Newbury College at 8:00p for a New England Collegiate Conference affair. The Corsairs will return to the court on Saturday, October 25th as they travel to Keene State College at 2:00p.