PROVIDENCE, R.I. –  Freshmen Amanda Tyler (Longmeadow, MA) and Ashley Adams (Mystic) combined for five kills in the decisive set as the Eastern Connecticut State University women's volleyball team downed Johnson & Wales University in five sets in a non-conference match Saturday afternoon at the Wildcat Center. Set scores were 25-19, 22-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10.

At right: Amanda Tyler

The thrilling contest saw back and forth action with the teams splitting the first four games.  In the fifth and decisive set, Johnson & Wales (8-18)  raced to the early 4-1 lead, but committed six errors thereafter --- including four in a row -- with sophomore Allie Luppi (Tewksbury, MA) serving that carried the Warriors into the lead for good, 8-5.

With Eastern (12-11) leading 9-7 in the fifth set, sophomore Bry Kelly (Dunbarton, NH) put away two balls on sets from junior Allie Henry (Middletown) and soon after, Adams sandwiched kills around one by Kelly to move the Warriors to within match point, where freshman Kay Mullen (Fairhaven, MA) sealed it with her ninth kill of the match.

In defeating the Wildcats for the third time in the last five meetings, the Warriors never trailed in the first set on the way to the six-point win.With the match tied one-set each, Eastern appeared headed to an easy victory in the third set after junior setter Jess Patrizi (Beacon Falls) served the team to an 8-2 lead. The hosts chipped away, however, finally pulling even at 21-all. With the score tied at 23, Kelly put away a set from Henry and freshman Adrianna Mihalek (Woodbury) served the deciding point that was the result of a Wildcat attack error.

Johnson & Wales forced the deciding fifth set with the three-point victory in the fourth set. The hosts outscored Eastern 8-1 to erase a late four-point deficit and extend the match.

Senior Nicki Gasch (New Fairfield) paced Eastern with 16 kills while Mihalek had a double-double with 14 kills and 17 digs.  Kelly had 12 kills, a .286 attack percentage and four blocks,  and Mullen nine kills and a .368 attack percentage. Patrizi and Henry combined for 49 set assists. Luppi and senior Erynn Miller (Stratford) combined for 31 digs.

Johnson & Wales was paced by junior Alyssa Drapeau with 13 kills and nine digs while senior Ashley Rey  tallied 13 kills.  Senior Casey Higgins and sophomore Kellen Tensen combined for 44 set assists while senior Giselle Cram had 23 digs.

Eastern hosts defending Little East Conference champion Massachusetts Boston Tuesday at 7 p.m.