NEWPORT, R.I. - The Salve Regina University women's volleyball team recorded a collective .231 hitting percentage on their way to a 3-0 sweep of the Wentworth Institute of Technology at the Rodgers Recreation Center on Tuesday night. The win was the fourth straight for the Seahawks who improve to 15-7 on the year and a perfect 6-0 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). The loss evens the Leopards overall mark at 12-12 while they fall to 2-4 during CCC play.
The Seahawks took the three-setter by scores of 25-17, 25-12, and 25-18.
Sophomore Clare Adams (New Concord, Ohio) recorded seven kills, seven digs, four aces, and one block, while senior Julianne Barry (Randolph, Mass.) had a .400 hitting percentage while compiling eight kills and three blocks in the win. Freshman Jennifer Duggan (Merrimack, N.H.) led all players with nine kills on the night, while fellow freshman Taylor Violet (Tiverton, R.I.) had a match-best 29 assists for Salve Regina.
The Leopards were paced by senior Julie Bruton (Montgomery, Texas) who had a team-high 11 digs to go along with four kills and two blocks, while junior Nicole Wetherbee (Pembroke, Mass.) compiled a similar line of 10 digs, four kills, and two blocks in the loss. Freshman Shannon Ponce (San Jose, Calif.) also dished-out a team-high 16 assists, while sophomore Michelle Hobbs (Northwood, N.H.) led the Leopards with six kills on the night.
The score remained close early on in the opening set with the Seahawks leading 10-8. However, Salve Regina then went on a 6-0 run to open things up at 16-8 and never looked back, eventually closing out the Leopards on a kill by Jill Diffendaffer (Centennial, Colo.) to seal the 25-17 first set victory. Duggan led the way for the Seahawks collecting five kills in just 11 total attacks in the frame.
The second set started very similar to the first, with Salve Regina battling their way to a 10-8 advantage. Once again, the Seahawks erupted for a big run, scoring seven straight points to break open a 17-8 advantage that the Leopards never responded from. Salve Regina went on to score the final seven points of the frame to take the set 25-12. Adams was particularly impressive in the middle set, contributing five kills and two aces.
In the third and final set, the Seahawks broke out to an early 14-6 lead before cruising to a 25-18 win to clinch the match in straight sets. Freshman Tara Kuck (Huntington Station, N.Y.) led the charge for Salve Regina, collecting five kills in just seven total attacks.
Both teams will return to action on Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Leopards host UMass Dartmouth and the Seahawks welcome Connecticut College.
(Release Courtesy of Salve Regina Sports Information)
