BOSTON, Mass. – Paced by seven kills from freshman Caroline Rupp (Sayville, N.Y.) the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team upped its record to 9-0 on the season as the Leopards swept Newbury (1-9), 3-0, in non-conference action Thursday night.
Wentworth raced out to a 13-1 lead in the opening set, thanks in part to a pair of aces from junior Abigail Ahern (Barrington, N.H.) and a pair of kills from sophomore Samantha Lassiter (Rogers, Ark.) while sophomore Lexie Cambray was (Bedford, N.H.) was on the line to serve eight straight points. The Nighthawks closed the gap to 18-7, however, a 7-3 run by the Leopards ended the set at 25-10. Lassiter and Rupp each had three kills in the set while junior Lillie Clark (Vista, Calif.) also served two aces.
The second set saw the Leopards take a 7-1 lead with freshman Kayla Chen (Irvine, Calif.) scoring three of those seven points by way of service aces. Newbury score two straight points to make it 7-3, however, Wentworth responded with five of the next six points, capped off by a kill from Rupp, to take a 13-5 lead. The lead swelled to 15-5 before a pair of Wentworth errors pulled the Nighthawks to 15-7. The Leopards closed the set on a 10-2 run and took a 2-0 lead with a 25-9 win. Senior Caroline Shea (Abington, Mass.) had four kills on five swings without an error in the set while Chen served four aces. Wentworth forced Newbury to hit -.208 in the frame.
Wentworth scored the first four points of the third set and extended its lead to 15-3 after Rupp served an ace. The Leopards took the third set, 25-5 after hitting .583 in the set. Rupp, Ahern, and senior Katelyn Carlson (Stratford, Conn.) each had two kills in the set.
Rupp's seven kills came on 12 swings without an error (.583). Shea added five kills, while Ahern had four kills, four aces, and 10 digs. Chen served four aces and had nine assists, senior Jordan Young (Derry, N.H.) had three blocks, and Carlson had seven helpers.
Freshman Stephanie Rheaume (Hampton, N.H.) led Newbury with three kills. Seniors Julia Leggett (Longview, Wash.) and Marlen Reynoso (Springdale, Ark.) had five digs apiece. Reynoso also had six assists.
Wentworth will host Lesley and Worcester State in a tri-match on Saturday.
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