HARTFORD, Conn. – Eastern Connecticut State University junior middle Nayeli Cruz Martinez (Toa Baja, P.R.) snapped a tie with the final of her career-high 14 kills, then served up her only ace of the match to close out a four-set victory over Westfield State University in the team's final match of the Trinity College Invitational Saturday afternoon at Ray Oosting Gymnasium.

In a match which featured 28 ties and 15 lead changes, Eastern (5-1) broke a 1-1 tie by winning the final two sets by a total of five points. The Warriors won the match by scores of 25-21, 26-28, 25-22, 26-24.

In the first match of the day Saturday morning, Simmons University (4-1) broke an 11-11 tie in the fifth set by scoring the final four points to snap Eastern's 11-match winning streak. Simmons won by scores of 23-25, 25-22, 25-11, 22-25, 15-11.

Against Simmons, the Warriors tied the match by winning the fourth set by three points, outscoring the Sharks 5-1 down the stretch after trailing 21-20. Simmons commited two attack errors in that span, senior Anna Barry (Andover) had two kills and first-year player Cassie Parmelee (East Berlin) contributed a service ace.
The Warriors won two of three matches in the tournament, splitting Saturday's pair after sweeping host Trinity College Friday night.

In Saturday's split, senior Alaetra Long (Lincoln, NE) led five players in double-digit kills, with 25, with Martinez collecting 18, Barry and first-year player Bella Johnson (Marlborough) with 11 and senior setter Meg Verizzi (Lebanon) with ten. Barry's attack percentage of .292 topped all players.

Also on Saturday, Verizzi put up 66 assists and Parmelee served nearly half (12) of the team's 26 service aces. Defensively, Long had a team-high 38 digs, Parmelee and Johnson 18, Verizzi 16, and junior Paula Pérez (Caguas, P.R.) 12. In addition to leading the Warriors in kills and digs, Long commited only one error on 54 reception attempts.

Long led Eastern with 29 points on the afternoon, with Martinez over 20, as well, with 22.

Eastern opens its Little East Conference season Friday at 7 p.m., hosting the University of Massachusetts Boston at Geissler Gymnasium. The teams are ranked 1-2 in the LEC pre-season poll, the Warriors edging the Beacons by two points for the top spot. Both teams received three first-place votes in the balloting by conference coaches.