BOSTON, Mass. – For the first time since 2018, the top-seeded Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team (23-5, 8-0 CCC) captured the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship crown, taking a five-set thriller over the second-seeded Endicott Gulls (15-14, 7-1 CCC) in dramatic fashion.

With the win, the Leopards advance to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth set out to a 6-0 lead in the first set, with two points on service aces by freshman Kate McLane (Columbus, Ohio). A kill and service ace both by freshman Emma Sanders (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) continued the advantage to 9-3 before the Gulls rattled off 12 straight points, taking a 15-9 lead. Wentworth responded with an 8-0 run of their own, taking a 17-15 lead, but it wasn't enough as Endicott eventually rallied to grab a 25-22 set win.
• A kill by McLane helped the Leopards set out to a 4-2 lead to start set two before Endicott came back to take an 8-5 lead. A kill by sophomore Riley Schoonmaker (Montgomery, N.Y.) gave Wentworth an 11-9 lead before continuing the lead to 17-12. Two service aces by sophomore Amanda Zweifler (Jersey City, N.J.) helped the Leopards to a 21-14 lead before two kills by McLane clinched a 25-18 set win, tying the match at one-all.
• Kills by Schoonmaker, Sanders, and junior Helen Barthe (Blythewood, S.C.) got the Leopards out to a 6-3 lead in the third set before a kill by graduate student Riley Waggoner (Simi Valley, Calif.) continued the advantage to 9-7. Kills by Waggoner and Sanders pushed the lead to 14-9 before kills by Barthe, Sanders, and Schoonmaker continued the lead to 19-13. Kills by Waggoner and Sanders helped the Leopards grab a 25-15 set win and a 2-1 match edge.
• A kill by Sanders kickstarted a 4-0 run for the Leopards to begin the fourth set before the Gulls tied the set at four-all. Endicott grabbed a 9-7 lead before later extended their advantage to 17-12. Wentworth clawed back with kills by Waggoner, Barthe, and McLane, but the Gulls held their own for a 25-20 set win, forcing a pivotal fifth set.
• After being behind 3-1 to start the fifth set, Wentworth rattled off six straight points, including two on kills by Sanders. The Gulls clawed back, taking a 13-10 lead, before Wentworth put five straight points on the board, including two on a kill apiece from McLane and Sanders, to earn a thrilling 15-13 comeback set win.
• Sanders led the way for the Leopards with 17 kills and 17 digs. McLane also notched a double-double (15, 12), while freshman Olivia Vaughn (Bolingbrook, Ill.) posted 44 assists.
  

NOTEWORTHY:

• With the championship win, the Leopards match their program-best 15-match win streak set back in 2018.
• Wentworth is 14-1 at home this season.
  

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards advance to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament and await their opponent to be revealed in the Selection Show on Monday.

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