Volleyball Falls in Straight Sets at Emmanuel

Boston, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women's volleyball team posted a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-23) victory over Framingham State University Tuesday evening at the Jean Yawkey Center Gymnasium.

With the win, the Saints improve to 19-9 on the year and extend their winning streak to seven while the loss snaps a three game winning streak for the Rams who are now 19-9.

After trailing 8-6 during the early stages of the first set, Emmanuel rattled off eight consecutive points behind the service game of sophomore defensive specialist Sarah Schemerhorn (Los Angeles, Calif.) to take a 14-8 lead. Back to back kills from junior outside hitter Danielle Rose (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) followed by a hitting error from the Rams closed out the set to give the hosts the 1-0 set lead after one.

The second set was all EC as the Saints combined to hit .433 from the floor while holding Framingham State to a .000 hitting percentage. After trading points to a 5-5 tie, junior setter Shannon Dudley (Morro Bay, Calif.) reeled off six straight points as the server to help the hosts gain control of the action with an 11-5 lead. A kill by FSU sophomore hitter Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.) cut the lead to 13-10 but it was as close as the Rams would get as the Saints cruised to the 25-15 win to go up 2-0.

Framingham State was in control for much of the third set, owning a lead until Emmanuel was able to even the score at 18-18 following a kill from sophomore outside hitter Cassie Chruscielski (Duluth, Minn.).  EC would score the next three points to take a 21-18 lead and force the visitors to spend a timeout to regroup. An Emmanuel service error would give the ball back to the Rams trailing by two and after trading points, Framingham pulled within a point at 24-23 following another Saints miscue. Senior Sarah Colby (West Barnstable, Mass.) took care of business when it mattered, slamming home the match-winner to give EC the 25-23 win en route to the 3-0 victory.

EC junior middle hitter Brittany Tutalo (Johnson, R.I.) led all players with 10 kills while Rose and sophomore middle hitter Kaitlyn Atkinson (Brookline, N.H.) chipped in with seven kills each. Schemerhorn recorded a game-high 12 digs while Dudley dished out 34 assists in the win.

Rackliffe paced the Rams with a team-best nine kills to go along with nine digs. Senior outside hitter Danielle Girard (Tivoli, N.Y.) added seven kills and eight digs, while senior setter Maribeth Martin (Barnstable, Mass.) notched 13 assists.

Emmanuel returns to action on Thursday evening when they host Simmons College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action at 7 p.m. in their annual "Dig Pink" contest. Framingham State is back on the court on Saturday, October 25 in a non-conference tri-match vs. Keene State College and UMass Dartmouth starting at 2 p.m. in Keene, N.H.

Release courtesy of EC Sports Information.