BOSTON – Emmanuel College attacked at .312  -- led by junior Brittany Tutalo (.421), senior Sara Colby (.364) and sophomore Cassie Chruscielski (.333) -- to defeat Eastern Connecticut State University in four sets Wednesday night at the Jean Yawkey Center. Set scores were 8-25, 14-25, 25-22, 22-25.

At right: Freshman Megan Macomber (16) (Photo by Laim Murphy)

The win in its home-opener is the second in as many years for Emmanuel (5-5) after Eastern (4-2) won the first seven matches in the series. The Warriors had won their last three matches in winning last weekend's Newbury College Invitational.

Chruscielski had 13 kills, senior Cara Callahan 17 digs and junior Shannon Dudley 13 digs and four service aces for Emmanuel.

Sophomore Adrianna Mihalek (Woodbury) of Eastern led all players in the match with 15 kills but attacked at only .098, with Eastern attacking at only .104 as a team.  Senior Allie Henry (Middletown) had 18 assists for the Warriors, junior Allie Luppi (Tewksbury, MA) and freshman Michelle Valliere (Lebanon) 12 digs each. Freshman Megan Macomber (South Windsor) attacked at .300 on ten attempts and added three block assists.

 After losing the first two sets, Eastern prolonged the match with the third-set victory. The Warriors tied the match at 13-13 on a kill by sophomore Kay Mullen (Fairhaven, MA), then reeled off the next three on a pair of Emmanuel attack errors and a service ace by Henry en route to the third-set victory.

Eastern scored five of the first six points in the fourth set on two Emmanel attack errors, kills by Macomber and Mihalek and a service ace from Valliere, the Saints  surged back, finally taking their first lead at 18-17. The Warriors tied the match for the final time, 19-19, on a kill by sophomore Amanda Tyler (Longmeadow, MA)  before the hosts reeled off six of the final nine points.

Eastern competes in the Trinity College Invitational this weekend, opening against Western New England University Friday at 7 p.m.