BOSTON, Mass. – First year middle blocker Emee Ashby (Payson, Ariz.) put away a career-high 22 kills and sophomore libero Alex Itasaka (Bradford, Mass.) picked up a personal-best 32 digs to lead the Simmons College women's volleyball team to a Great Northeast Athletic Conference tri-match sweep over Norwich University, 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-13) and Saint Joseph's College (Maine), 3-2 (28-30, 25-21, 25-21, 21-25, 16-14) today at Moore Gymnasium in Boston, Mass.
Norwich also defeated Saint Joseph's in the middle match, 3-0 (26-24, 33-31, 25-22). The Sharks have won five straight matches and improve to 8-13 overall, including 6-2 in league play, while the Cadets stand at 11-10 and 4-3 and the Monks fall to 7-19 and 2-7.
Sophomore outside hitter Cailin Fredrickson (Columbia, Md.) led all players with nine kills to go with a .250 hitting mark and four digs, a pair of aces and a block assist for Simmons vs. Norwich. Sophomore setter Andalyn Duke (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) was excellent on both sides of the net, setting for 23 assists to go with 11 digs and five kills. Ashby finished with seven kills on a .368 hitting percentage and added a personal-high five aces in addition to five digs to go with three block assists.
Junior outside hitter Tara Lyons (Pocasset, Mass.) spiked for a team-high eight kills on a .333 hitting percentage for Norwich, while first year outside hitter Alma Turpin (Sterling, Va.) put down seven kills and came up with four digs. First year setter Katherine Crane (Avon, N.Y.) set for 23 assists, recorded 11 digs and spiked for five kills.
Ashby led the Sharks offense in their victory over Saint Joseph's with her personal standard for kills, while hitting .294 and scooping up seven digs to go with a career-best six block assists. Junior rightside hitterNicole Alberghini (Northborough, Mass.) stepped up with a career-high 16 kills on a .293 hitting percentage and also came up with four digs. Fredrickson finished with 14 kills, seven digs and six block assists, while sophomore middle hitter Abby Hart (Westfield, Mass.) crushed 11 kills and got up for five block assists. Itasaka did not let the ball hit the floor, getting down for a personal-high 32 digs Duke matched her career-high with 57 assists to direct the offense. She also added a career-best 16 digs and fired two aces.
Junior middle blocker Felicia Wachowiak (Milton, N.H.) posted 20 kills with three digs and six blocks for Saint Joseph's, while sophomore Shadai Gosselin (Somersworth, N.H.) swung for nine kills and came up with 14 digs, while junior setter Abbie McPhee (Epping, N.H.) put up 31 assists and grabbed 24 digs as well.
Senior outside hitter Kelsey Mancini (Lynnfield, Mass.) led Norwich vs. Saint Joseph's with a game-high 14 kills in addition to three digs, while senior outside hitter Alex Palmer (South Windsor, Conn.) pounded 12 kills and scooped up 16 digs. Senior setter Corrine Baita (Rochester, N.H.) registered 31 assists and also added four digs and three service aces. Sophomore libero Alex Ruediger (Sandy Lake, Pa.) contributed with a match-high 17 digs.
Wachowiak remained hot for the Monks with 13 kills, five kills and five blocks and junior libero Shadai Gosselin (Somersworth, N.H.) put down nine kills and 14 digs. McPhee matched her earlier effort with 31 helpers and also came up with 24 digs. Junior libero Sam Wright (Westport, Ma.) helped anchor the defense with 24 digs.
COURTESY OF SIMMONS COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION
Follow Saint Joseph's Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram!
Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
