CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University sophomore Anni Abbruzzese (Croton on Hudson, N.Y.) notched 12 kills to go with 16 digs to lead to the Lynx to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-19) win over Emmanuel College in non-conference women's volleyball action tonight at the Nicholas Athletics Center.
The Lynx, winners of two out of their last three, improve to 4-6 overall on the season while the loss drops the Saints to 3-7 overall.
Abbruzzese hit .235 on the night while classmate Kaylee Deluga (Dennis, Mass.) chipped in with ten kills to help aid the offense. Fellow sophomore Ciara Bruning (Centerville, Mass.) added seven kills and Sarah Hollis (Hudson, Mass.) finished with three. Senior setter Emily Marden (Fremont, Calif.) dished out a match-best 33 assists in the win.
Saints junior Cassie Chruscielski (Duluth, Minn.) powered the attack for the visitors as she finished with a team-high 11 kills and 14 digs. Freshman Mary Shelow (Miami, Fla.) added eight kills and nine digs on defense while junior Sarah Schemerhorn (Los Angeles, Calif.) set up the offense with 22 assists.
A kill by Emmanuel freshman Angelica Czercowy (Hebron, Conn.) brought the Saints to within one, 18-17, late in the opening session but the Lynx would answer scoring seven of the nine points to take the first 25-19. Abbruzzese was hot from the start as she landed five kills in the set to pace the offense for the hosts.
Late in the second set the Saints appeared to gain control with a 5-2 run that gave them a 20-17 advantage, but a serving error opened the door for the Lynx as they stormed back to score six unanswered points before taking the set 25-23. Abbruzzese and Bruning each finished with five kills in the set for the hosts.
Leading 16-15 in the third, the Lynx gave themselves a little separation with a 5-0 spurt capped by a Deluga slam to extend the lead to 21-15 before ending the set 25-19 for the 3-0 match sweep.
The Lynx will look to make it three out of four on Thursday night when they play host to Anna Maria College at 8:00p at the Nicholas Athletics Center. The Saints will return to the court on Saturday when they travel to Gorham, Maine for a tri-match with the University of Southern Maine and Eastern Connecticut State beginning at 2:00p.