WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Senior middle hitter Katie Wilson (Pittsburg, CA) had 27 kills and a .571 attack percentage as the Eastern Connecticut State University women's volleyball team won for the ninth time in its last ten matches with a 25-23, 17-25, 25-20, 25-21 non-conference victory over Wesleyan University Wednesday night at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
A senior playing in her final regular-season home match, Wilson continued to pile up kills, upping her total in the last three matches to 84 with a .416 attack percentage in leading Eastern (17-12) to a current season-high five-match win streak. By winning, the Warriors defeated Wesleyan (8-14) for the second straight season. The Cardinals had won four of their previous five entering play.
Wilson had six consecutive kills to lead Eastern to the first-set win, the Warriors scoring four of the final five points of the set to erase a one-point deficit late in the match. A Wesleyan serve error tied that match and Wilson gave the Warriors the lead for good with her seventh kill of the match.
The Cardinals never trailed in the second set, scoring seven points in a row to break from a 6-6 tie. Junior Kate Centofanti capped the run with her only two service aces of the match. Junior Kim Farris contributed four kills without an error in the set.
In the critical third set, Eastern freshman Allie Luppi (Tewksbury, MA) served five consecutive points – two coming on aces – as the Warriors raced to a 5-1 lead and Eastern never trailed. A run of four straight points later put the Warriors in command, 17-11, with freshman Melissa Godere (Norwich) coming off the bench to serve two more aces.
Wilson dominated the fourth set to wrap up the victory with 11 kills on 14 tries with only one error, and added nine digs, while junior Nicki Gasch (New Fairfield) added four kills.
Eastern junior Erynn Miller (Stratford) handled 21 receptions without an error and also dug up a game-high 20 balls. Wilson finished with 15 digs, senior Danielle Bourne (Branford) and Gasch combining on 19 kills, Bourne recording ten. Luppi had 11 digs and made only one reception error on 19 tries.
Farris topped Wesleyan with 16 kills, attacking at .283 attack., with junior Monica Leslie attacking at .414 with 14 kills.Senior Laura Volgenau and freshman Abby Southam combined for 15 kills for the Cardinals, freshman setter Brenna Tharnstrom recording 31 assists and nine digs, Centofanti leading all Wesleyan players with 11 digs and senior Jeanne McPhee chipping in eight digs.
Eastern closes out the regular season Saturday against Suffolk University and host Framingham State before hosting a first-round match in the Little East Conference playoff as the No. 4 seed Tuesday at 7 p.m.
