HENNIKER, N.H. – The Curry College Volleyball team split its final two matches at the New England College tournament, defeating Southern Vermont in straight sets (25-11, 25-19, 25-15) and falling to the Pilgrims in three sets (25-21, 25-19, 25-20). The Colonels now sit at 2-1 on the season.
Match One - Curry 3, Southern Vermont 0
Curry was paced by 10 kills by Grace Stafford (West Yarmouth, Mass.) while Courtney Carroll (Fairhaven, Mass.) led all players with 17 digs. Monica Wilkes (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) recorded a match-high 29 assists in the victory.
Curry jumped out quickly and grabbed the early 1-0 advantage with a 25-11 first set victory.
The second set was the closest of the afternoon, with the Colonels winning the first point off a service ace from Shea Mathews (Concord, N.H.). Curry pulled out to a quick 10-7 lead and would grow it to 17-14, thanks to another ace from Mathews. Southern Vermont would come back to tie the frame at 17 but the Colonels would close the set strong. With the score tied at 19, Curry claimed the final six points to win the set by a final of 25-19.
The final set was highlighted by a 10-0 run when the game was knotted at 10 apiece. Nicole Rice (Woburn, Mass.) tallied four kills during the run and helped the Colonels claim the final set, 25-15.
Match Two – New England College 3, Curry 0
The Pilgrims came back ready to fight in their second match of the day, posting nine more kills than Curry throughout the match.
NEC had their best hitting performance to-date in the second set, when they set down 16 kills with just five errors fora .244 efficiency.
After NEC won two sets handedly, 25-21 and 25-19, Curry came back with a vengeance and led the whole third set until the Pilgrims tied it at 15-15. From there it was a race to claim the next 10 points, and the Pilgrims did some damage at the net, picking up kills by Griffin, Angela Davis (Springfield, Mass.), and Walker during the stretch.
A service error by Curry gave NEC their 24th point, and Meaghan Six (Manchester, N.H.) and Griffin and Gabryella Serrano (Bridgewater, Mass.) picked up a big block to hand Curry their first loss of 2017.
Walker and Griffin both finished with 13 kills apiece for NEC, followed by MacDougall with six. Serrano dished out 29 assists.
Defensively, the Pilgrims were led by Kennedy Somavia and Six, who had 13 and 12 digs, respectively. Serrano, Davis, and Griffin all had two blocks each.
Curry received 12 kills from Stafford and five from Rice. Wilkes dished out 25 assists, while Carroll finished with 14 digs.
The Colonels will next play on Thursday when they host Rhode Island College at 7:00 p.m.
(Game Recap Courtesy of New England College Sports Information)
