SALEM, MASS – WPI swept its pair of matches at Salem State on Saturday afternoon as the Engineers defeated the host, Vikings and Curry College 3-0. Salem State defeated the Colonels in the opening match 27-25, 26-24, 25-23. WPI also defeated Curry 25-16, 28-26, and 25-19.The Colonels slip to 6-8 on the season.

Salem State 3, Curry 0

Trailing 21-19 in the first set, Salem State received three service aces by Emily Russo to take a 23-21 lead. Nicole Grambley (North Attleboro, Mass.) kept Curry within striking distance with two aces to pull the Colonels even. However multiple errors by Curry gave Salem State a 27-25 victory. The third set was also closely contested as neither team could pull away. In a back-and-forth-battle, Salem State gained control after a kill by Haley Reed tied the game at 21-21. Multiple errors by Curry set up a kill by Sara LaFreniere  to ice the 25-23 Vikings' win.  Chloe Roy led Salem State with 10 kills while Morgan Adams had 17 assists and Hanna Mullarkey had 20 digs. Grambley topped the Colonels with seven kills and six aces and Courtney Carroll (Fairhaven, Mass.) contributed 15 digs on the defensive end.

 WPI 3, Curry 0 

Leading by a set, WPI held off a late rally by Curry to win the second set 28-26. In set three, the Engineers jumped out to an 11-5 lead behind a kill by Maddy Werth (Bedford, Mass.).  Curry drew to within a point at 15-14 after a kill by Grace Stafford (West Yarmouth, Mass.). Up by two, WPI took advantage of back-to-back errors by the Colonels to build a 21-18 lead. Two kills by Abbie Gilbert (Hopkinton, Mass.) then secured the 25-19 victory.  Werth and Colleen Mullins (Andover, Mass.) led WPI with seven kills each while Azita Bakhtyari (Andover, Mass.) had 16 assists and Kelly Rathje (Scituate, Mass.) 12 digs. Stafford led Curry with 11 points and 11 kills. Alyssa Keeney (Coventry, Conn.) had 16 assists and Courtney Carroll (Fairhaven, Mass.) 14 assists. WPI limited Curry to just a .031 hitting percentage.   

Salem State and WPI are back in action again on Tuesday Oct. 4 when the Vikings travel to Salve Regina and the Engineers host Babson. The Colonels go to Endicott to take on the Gulls on Oct. 5 for a 7 p.m. contest.

(Game Recap courtesy of Salem State Sports Information)