BOSTON, MA - UMass Boston (19-4) defeated Saint Joseph's (13-11), 25-8, 25-6, 25-7, in a non-conference volleyball match on Friday evening at the Clark Athletic Center. Freshman middle hitter Sarah Hawkes (Pownal, ME) led the Monks with four kills and hit .222, while adding four digs and a block assist. The Beacons, who are currently ranked third in the latest NCAA Division III New England Women's Volleyball Association Poll, win their sixth straight contest and have won 19 of their last 21 matches.

For the Beacons, senior outside hitter Kate McWhorter (Bakersfield, CA) smashed 12 kills and posted an impressive .500 attack percentage in the triumph.

UMass Boston scored nine of the first 10 points in the first set and later took a 16-5 lead, before putting the set away on a run of eight straight points during McWhorter's serve.  The Beacons took a commanding 13-2 lead, following a string of nine consecutive points on freshman libero Bethany Rossoll's (Colorado Springs, CO) service in the second set and got eight more points during junior defensive specialist Michelle Cawley's (Canton, MA) serve for a 22-4 advantage, before taking the frame.  UMass Boston jumped out to a 15-5 margin in the final set, before cruising to the victory.  The Beacons hit .478 as a team for the match.

McWhorter added three aces and seven digs to her night for UMass Boston, while freshman middle hitter Shannon Thompson (Moorpark, CA) put down nine kills on a blistering .615 hitting mark in addition to 10 digs, a block assist and five aces to match her career high. Freshman setter Frana Burtness-Adams (Fairbanks, AK) and sophomore setter Cassy Hanneman (Denver, CO) combined for 34 assists with Burtness-Adams putting up a career-high 19. 

For the Monks, freshman right side Caitlin Leary (Scarborough, ME) chipped in with two kills and five digs, while freshman setter Kiah Begley (Berwick, ME) directed the offense with five assists, spiked for a kill and scooped up a team-high six digs.

The Beacons will be in action again when they compete in a tri-match on Saturday, October 17.  They will take on Saint Lawrence University (NY) at 10:30 a.m. followed by host MIT at 1:00 p.m.  The Monks will also be in action tomorrow when they play Simmons College at 11:00 a.m. and Rivier College at Simmons at 1:00 p.m.

MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS PROVIDED BY UMASS BOSTON SPORTS INFORMATION

UMass Boston def. St. Joseph's (Me.) 25-8,25-6,25-7

St. Joseph's (Me.) (13-11) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Sarah Hawkes
4-0-1; Caitlin Cleary 2-0-0; Jordan Pelczar 1-0-0; Leocadya Koziski
1-0-1; Kiah Begley 1-0-0; Karen King 1-0-0; Totals 10-0-1.0. (Assists)
- . (Dig leaders) - Kiah Begley 6; Caitlin Cleary 5

UMass Boston (19-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kate McWhorter
12-3-0; Shannon Thompson 9-5-1; Alexa Sullivan 6-0-1; Molly Rattigan
5-0-1; Melissa Brown 2-0-0; Frana Burtness-Adams 2-0-0; Kate White
1-0-0; Cassy Hanneman 0-3-0; Michelle Cawley 0-4-0; Bethany Rossoll
0-6-0; Totals 37-21-2.0. (Assists) - Frana Burtness-Adams 19; Cassy
Hanneman 15. (Dig leaders) - Bethany Rossoll 13; Shannon Thompson 10

Site: Boston, MA (Clark Athletic Ctr.)


Date: Oct 16, 2009   Attend: 125   Time: 0:46


Referees: