Endicott Drops Pair of Matches to NESCAC Foes; Set to Host Colby-Sawyer Thursday

HARTFORD, Conn.-  The Endicott women's volleyball team traveled to Trinity College today to compete in a tri-match against a pair of NESCAC opponents in Williams and host Trinity.  The Gulls would suffer two setbacks on the day, falling to Williams 3-0 before dropping a 3-1 decision to Trinity.  With the losses, Endicott falls to 7-6 on the season and returns to action on Thursday night when they play host to Colby-Sawyer, a former CCC rival before Colby-Sawyer moved to the NAC.

MATCH ONE:  ENDICOTT 0 WILLIAMS 3

Entering the week ranked #8 in New England in the most recent NEWVA poll, the Gulls knew they had a tough task ahead in #3 Williams who entered the match with a 6-1 record.  Williams lived up to their billing, holding Endicott to just a .067 hitting percentage while maintaining a .224 clip themselves.  Endicott fell in straight sets by scores of 12-25, 19-25 and 24-26 to fall to 0-8 all-time against Williams.

Endicott was led by sophomore Tori McIntyre (San Diego, Calif.) who tied for the match high in blocks with three assists, second in the match with eight kills and 9.5 points and third for digs with six total.  Fellow sophomore Erika Trudon (Coventry, Conn.) finished tied for the match high dig total with seven as the Williams offense proved to be too much for Endicott's defense.

The Ephs used tough serving to pair with a balanced offense in keeping the Gulls off their game.  Williams received a match high 10 kills and seven digs from sophomore Tori Jasuta (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) who also led the way with 10.0 points.  Junior middle Katherine Lane (La Jolla, Calif.) led the match with a .318 average as she collected eight kills on 22 swings.  Williams received a match high five aces from Catie Benell (Pacific Palisades, Calif.), while were almost half of the team's 12 on the day.  Setter Ryan Farley (La Jolla, Calif.) led the match with 24 assists while also chipping in three aces and three digs.

MATCH TWO:  ENDICOTT 1 TRINITY 3

Looking to rebound in the night cap, the Gulls would play their most tightly contested match of the season, falling in four sets by scores of 24-26, 23-25, 25-23 and 20-25.  Endicott improved dramatically offensively from their first contest of the day, hitting at a .160 clip, but still couldn't take down the Bantams to fall to 1-1 all-time against Trinity.

Endicott saw three players finish with double digit kill totals as McIntyre once again led the Gulls with a team high 14 kills on 49 swings.  McIntyre recorded her fifth double-double as she added 15 digs to her performance.  Joining the sophomore offensively was fellow sophomore Hayley Knapp (Valencia, Calif.) who notched 11 of her own while hitting at a team high .333 clip and freshman Lauren Sheehan (Bainbridge, Wash.) who finished with 10.  Junior Alleigh VandeMerkt (Riverside, Ill.) finished with a match high 35 assists while also picking up 15 digs.

Sophomore libero Erika Trudon was fantastic defensively, recording a match high 29 digs to go with four aces.  Senior Jessica Petrucci (Cape Coral, Fla.) also finished in double digits for digs, closing out the match with 11 of her own.

Trinity was led by four players who recorded double-double performances in Kate Giddens (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.), Hunter Drews (Clifton Park, N.Y.), Gina Buzzelli (Cheshire, Conn.) and Randi Whitham (South Weymouth, Mass.).  Giddens and Drews finished with 15-20 and 12-12 (kills-digs) performances respectively as setters Buzzelli and Whitham finished with 28 assists, 10 digs and 13 assists, 12 digs respectively.  Libero Grace Metry (Grosse Point Park, Mich.) finished with a team high 22 digs.

With the losses, Endicott falls to 7-6 on the season and returns to action on Thursday night when they play host to Colby-Sawyer, a former CCC rival before Colby-Sawyer moved to the NAC.  Endicott then turns their focus to Saturday, the 27th when they play host to North Shore and CCC rival Gordon for Endicott's Homecoming match.