PAXTON, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College (7-13, 4-2 GNAC) defeated Anna Maria College (5-13, 1-6 GNAC), 3-1 (29-27, 13-25, 28-26, 25-11) in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's volleyball match on Tuesday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In a match featuring 32 tie scores and 20 lead changes, the Monks needed extra play in the first and third sets and eventually pulled away with a convincing fourth-set win and match triumph.
In the first set – which featured 16 ties and eight lead changes alone - the AMCATS were facing set point at 24-23 when Anna Maria sophomore setter Julia Tarantino (Pembroke, Mass.) put down a dump-kill to keep her team alive and push the set into the extras. The Monks eventually took the set with a kill by senior middle blocker Sarah Quinn (Dover, N.H.).
In the second set, Anna Maria took control behind the serving of junior middle blocker Ashley Sheehan (Medford, Mass.). The AMCATS coasted and finally took it off a kill by sophomore outside hitter Sarah Burt (Plymouth, Mass.).
The third set was another nail-biter, with Anna Maria holding set point and the serve with a 25-24 lead. But St. Joe's freshman Sierra Burns (Peyton, Colo.) put down a kill and the Monks would pull away in extras.
The fourth and final set saw a dominating serving performance by Burns. Down 8-7 when the ball was put in her hands, the rookie held serve on 18 straight rallies, bringing the Monks to the precipice of victory.
LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Quinn tallied a career-high 18 kills with 13 digs, five block assists, and a .378 hitting percentage
- Senior Nicole Baron (Derry, N.H.) notched seven kills
- Juniors Isabel Philbrick (Milford, N.H.) and Catherine Balzano (Portland, Maine) and freshman Allison McMullen (Jacksonville, Fla.) added six kills apiece
- Junior Hanna Holden (Stoughton, Mass.) registered four kills, 45 assists, 10 digs and three block assists
- Burns contributed with two kills, four aces, and 21 digs
- Sophomore Sam Holland (Gilmanton, N.H.) chipped in with two service aces and 12 digs
- Sophomore Abby Jerome (Barrington, N.H.) added 12 digs
LEADERS – ANNA MARIA:
- Julia Tarantino notched seven kills, 17 assists, and nine digs
- Ashley Sheehan posted four service aces and three kills
- Sarah Burt added five kills and 10 digs
- Jenna Grande tallied four kills, three aces, and 13 digs
- Serena Dennis paced the AMCATS with 17 digs and added a pair of aces
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's will play at New England College on Thursday in a non-conference match set to begin at 7:00 PM.
