WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Senior All-America middle blocker Anna Barry (Andover) had 35 kills and attacked at .458 and senior Meg Verizzi (Lebanon) set for 49 kills to power the Eastern Connecticut State University women's volleyball team to two wins in its home-openers Saturday at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
 
Eastern (5-2) survived an upset bid by Simmons University (2-4) to post a 25-19, 13-25, 29-27, 26-24 victory before sweeping Bay Path University  (2-6), 25-12, 25-19, 25-21.
 
Barry also contributed five blocks while Verizzi topped five players with double-digit digs, with 22. Senior Nayeli Cruz Martinez (Toa Baja, P.R.) added 17 kills and a .367 attack percentage and eight service aces. Senior Cassie Parmelee (Esat Berlin) had 15 digs and six service aces. Senior Paula Perez (Caguas, P.R.) had 20 digs and handled 28 receptions with only two errors.
 
In four sets against Simmons, Barry had 21 kills with a .385 attack percentage and four blocks, Cruz Martinez ten kills and a .438 attack percentage and served four aces and Verizzi 33 assists.
 
All 16 Eastern players saw action in the sweep of Bay Path, with Barry attacking at .600 with 14 kills, Verizzi setting for 16 assists, Cruz Martinez adding four more service aces and seven kills.
 
The wins give Eastern three victories in less than 24 hours, with the Warriors coming off Friday night's five-set triumph at Trinity College.
 
Eastern opens Little East Conference play Friday at the University of Massachusetts Boston at 7 p.m.