BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.) recorded a double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs to help pace the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team its ninth straight with a 3-0 win over Emerson in the Leopards' final non-conference match of the 2017 campaign.
With the win the Leopards improve to 22-2 on the season while the Lions fall to 10-11. Wentworth's win snapped a five-match series losing streak to Emerson as the Black & Gold picked up their first series win since September 12, 2006.
The first set began as a back-and-forth battle which featured three tie scores in the first six points. A kill by sophomore Samantha Lassiter (Rogers, Ark.) tied the score at 3-all and gave the Leopards the serve. After an Emerson attack error, a service ace by sophomore Lexie Cambray (Bedford, N.H.) and another Rogoz kill, the Leopards had a 6-3 lead. A kill by Lion junior Kelley Guerra (Randolph, N.J.) ended the Leopard run. The Leopards increased their lead to 11-6 after a Rogoz ace, a pair of Emerson errors, and a kill by sophomore Claire Quick (Mission Viejo, Calif). The Lions chipped away at the lead, pulling within two on a pair occasions. With the Leopards leading 19-13, sophomore Maddy Tomastik (Portland, Ore.) stepped to the service line and gave the hosts a 21-13 lead, thanks in part to back-to-back blocks; one from freshman Makenna Salsbury (Bel Air, Md.) and Rogoz and the other from freshman Makenna Salsbury (Bel Air, Md.) and senior Caroline Shea (Abington, Mass.). The Black & Gold closed out the first set with a 25-17 win.
Lassiter scored three of Wentworth's first seven points of the second set, all by way of kills. The teams traded points and Emerson drew the score to 9-6 after a kill from junior Fara Cohen (Morristown, N.J.). An attack error gave Wentworth a point and the serve back and junior Lillie Clark (Vista, Calif.) recorded back-to-back aces to make it 12-6. The leopards continued to build their lead, thanks in part to a series of Lion errors as well as two kills form freshman Caroline Rupp (Sayville, N.Y.) and an ace apiece from Quick and Cambray. Quick ended the second set with a kill, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead after a 25-14 win.
Rogoz recorded eight kills in the third set to help Wentworth complete the sweep, however, it was Emerson who opened the frame with the lead thanks to a kill from junior Moira Brennan (Glenview, Ill.) and a pair of aces from Cohen. Rogoz got the Black & Gold on the board with a kill, which began a 9-3 run and gave the Leopards a 10-6 lead. Two straight Emerson points brought the visitors to with a pair at 10-8, however that would be as close as the Lions would come as a 9-3 Wentworth run extended the lead to 19-11 and the Leopards took the third set by a 25-17 score.
Rogoz made just three errors on 35 swings to hit .400 for the match and also added two blocks. Quick finished with eight kills and 15 digs, while Rupp and Lassiter had five kills apiece. Cambray had 15 digs and a pair of aces, Salsbury finished with two blocks, sophomore Katie Clouse (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) had 22 assists and Tomastik had 10 helpers of her own.
The Lions were led by Guerra who had eight kills. Freshman Albany Alexander (Orlando, Fla.) and Cohen each added seven kills of their own. Junior Moira Brennan (Glenview, Ill.) added 23 assists and seven digs in the loss.
Wentworth returns to Commonwealth Coast Conference play Wednesday night when the Leopards host Curry. Emerson hosts Rivier on Tuesday night.
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