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Box Score 2 BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The Eastern Connecticut State University women's volleyball team attained two significant accomplishments Saturday, and because of that, it has returned to the .500 mark for the first time in nearly a month.
In the first of two matches at the University of New England, Eastern (11-11, 2-3 LEC) won its second straight Little East Conference match in four days with a 25-15, 25-10, 25-11 decision over the University of Southern Maine (8-15, 0-5 Little East). Later, the Warriors avenged a tight four-set loss to host New England a week ago with a tight four-set win this time, 26-24, 25-16, 19-25, 25-19.
With the second victory of the day – perhaps not quite as significant as the first – Eastern is back at .500 for the first time since it was 5-5 on Sept. 15. Since falling to a season-worst 5-9 three weeks ago, Eastern has won six of eight. By improving to 13-1 all-time against Southern Maine, the Warriors upped their record to 7-2 against neutral-site opponents in 2012.
On the afternoon, senior Katie Wilson (Pittsburg, CA) continued her superb all-around play this year with 30 kills, a .448 attack percentage., 20 digs, five blocks, three service aces, and 37.5 total points. In the last ten matches, Wilson is averaging 4.61 kills per set on a .346 attack percentage, with 23 service aces, a .935 reception percentage, 27 blocks and an average of 3.31 digs.
Saturday, senior Danielle Bourne (Branford) collected 20 kills with a .319 attack percentage and added two service aces. Sophomore transfer Jess Patrizi (Beacon Falls), who missed the first half of the season with injury, added 38 assists and ten digs, sophomore Allie Henry (Middletown) contributing 24 assists and 11 digs, junior Erynn Miller (Stratford) 30 digs, a .907 reception percentage on 43 reception attempts, and three service aces, and freshman Allie Luppi (Tewksbury, MA) ten digs and five service aces.
Against New England, Wilson registered 17 of the team's 44 kills, with five blocks and 11 digs, while Bourne and junior Nicki Gasch (New Fairfield) chipped in nine kills each, with Bourne attacking at .308.
Against UNE, Miller came up with 16 digs and served three aces and Patrizi was credited with 20 assists. The Warriors commited only three reception errors and accumulated nine points on service aces.
Eastern visits Mitchell College Thursday at 6 p.m. before hosting the 32nd Annual Crabtree Classic next weekend at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
