Box Score NEWPORT, R.I., – Playing its sixth regionally-ranked team this year, the Eastern Connecticut State University women's volleyball team was swept by Salve Regina University Tuesday night at the Rodgers Recreation Center. Set scores were 25-13, 25-22, 25-19.
Having lost five straight decisions against teams ranked in New England since opening the season by defeating regionally-ranked U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Eastern (4-7) led only once in the match after scoring the first two points of the final set.
Pictured at right: Amanda Tyler
In a re-match of last year's ECAC first-round contest (won in five by Salve), 12th-ranked Salve (10-1) scored nine of the final 12 points of the first set to pull away from a four-point lead; in the second set, the Warriors used a late run to close an eight-point deficit to one, 23-22, on an ace by sophomore Melissa Godere (Norwich), but the Seahawks closed it out by the final two points on an Eastern serving error and a kill by Emily Lipinski.
The hosts finished off the sweep in the third set by responding with seven straight points after an Seahawk attack error and a service ace by freshman Amanda Tyler (Longmeadow, MA) had spotted the Warriors a 2-0 lead. Leading by four, Salve used a kill, service ace and Eastern attack error to push the advantage to 22-15 on the way to the six-point win.
Freshman middle hitter Kay Mullen (Fairhaven, MA) led Eastern with eight kills and a .263 attack percentage to go along with three blocks; junior setter Allie Henry (Middletown) contributed 12 assists and senior libero Erynn Miller (Stratford) – ranked 15th nationally in digs with a 5.90 average – led all players on both teams in that department with 14.
Jennifer Duggan, a 5-foot-7 inch senior, had 11 kills and a .346 attack percentage for the Seahawks, who attacked at .300 as a team.
Eastern opens Little East Conference play Saturday, visiting the University of Southern Maine at noon. The Warriors follow with a non-conference match against Maine Maritime Academy at 2 p.m. at USM.
