PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Salve Regina University women's volleyball team battled throughout Friday evening's four-set matchup with Johnson & Wales University, saving its best stretch for the third set in a 3-1 setback at Wildcat Center Gymnasium.
After dropping the opening two sets, 25-20 and 25-15, the Seahawks answered with an impressive third-set performance. Salve Regina erupted for 14 kills while committing just three attack errors, hitting a match-best .423 as a team. The Seahawks held Johnson & Wales to just five kills and forced six attack errors on the way to a convincing 25-18 victory.
Lauren Shurling (Hudson, Mass.) and Anouk Jansen (Queen Creek, Ariz.) led the Salve Regina attack with 10 kills apiece, while Jenna DeFrancesco (Branford, Conn.) added eight kills. Abby McRoy (Fall River, Mass.) was particularly efficient offensively, recording five kills on 10 attacks without an error for a .500 hitting percentage.
At the service line, Lily Dobbins (Richmond, Ky.) led the Seahawks with two aces, while Kalena Stavish (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) and Kate Andy (Norton, Mass.) each added one. Salve Regina finished the match with six service aces.
The Seahawks also received a strong defensive effort from Dobbins, who collected a team-high 16 digs. Stavish and Jansen each added seven digs, while Saige Freitas-Rogers (Taunton, Mass.) contributed six.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Johnson & Wales 3, Salve Regina 1
Records: Salve Regina (0-2,0-0 NEWMAC), Johnson & Wales (2-0,0-0 CNE)
NOTEWORTHY:
- Salve Regina recorded 50 digs compared to 47 for Johnson & Wales and finished with 37 assists to the Wildcats' 36.
- The Seahawks also produced 40 kills and won the third set by seven points after holding Johnson & Wales to a -.042 hitting percentage.
ON THE HORIZON:
On Saturday, September 5, at 12 p.m. the Seahawks will take on the Union College Garnet Chargers in a neutral game at JWU. The Seahawks will face Manhattanville College the same day at 2 p.m.
