Posted: Nov 13, 2013
Spikers Storm Through Nor'easters to Reach ECAC New England Final Four Again
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--The Western New England University women's volleyball team got eight kills apiece from seniors Devyn Frank and Tyler Singh, and Kasey Cameron added seven, to help propel the Golden Bears cruise by visiting University of New England 25-10, 27-25, 25-9 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference New England Quarterfinals on Wednesday at the Alumni Healthful Living Center field house. The second-seeded Golden Bears (23-9) advance to the final four on Saturday to defend their 2012 ECAC regional championship, while the Nor'easters end the season at 14-11.
Angie Brunette and Leah Janelle led UNE offensively with seven and six kills, respectively, while setter Maria Kuehl had a match-high 21 assists.
Frank added three service aces and four total blocks along with a .467 attack percentage to her all-around game tonight. Grace Kucharski had a match-high 14 digs while freshmen setters Jessica Sincero and Jenna Leuck each recorded 13 assists, with the former chipping in 11 digs.
Kirsta Adie and Nikki Mathewson had 11 and 10 digs for UNE.
Western New England seized control of the first set on a Carolyn Hajdusek kill to break a 4-4 deadlock. After the teams split the next four points, Hajdusek then connected for another kill to ignite a four-point run to build the Golden Bears' lead to 11-6. The hosts went on to capture the last seven points--taking advantage of several UNE hitting errors--to win the set by 15 points.
The second set saw a quick WNE start at 14-5 and 22-12 before UNE eventually clawed back to actually have a set point, 24-23, on an ace off the serve of Kuehl. Brunette had four kills and the Nor'easters benefitted from seven WNE hitting errors to be on the verge of leveling the match at 1-set apiece.
After a Singh kill to tie it 24-24, UNE went ahead again on a Golden Bears attack error to go up 25-24. WNE took the next three points--and the set for a 2-0 lead in the match--that started with a UNE attack miscue.
Western New England dominated the final stanza wire-to-wire, hitting .300 in the third set to finish at .193 for the match.
The Golden Bears held UNE to .040 hitting in part to seven team blocks and also enjoyed advantages in kills (34-25) and service aces (14-2).
New England Region | Bracket
First Round - Wednesday, November 13
Angie Brunette and Leah Janelle led UNE offensively with seven and six kills, respectively, while setter Maria Kuehl had a match-high 21 assists.
Frank added three service aces and four total blocks along with a .467 attack percentage to her all-around game tonight. Grace Kucharski had a match-high 14 digs while freshmen setters Jessica Sincero and Jenna Leuck each recorded 13 assists, with the former chipping in 11 digs.
Kirsta Adie and Nikki Mathewson had 11 and 10 digs for UNE.
Western New England seized control of the first set on a Carolyn Hajdusek kill to break a 4-4 deadlock. After the teams split the next four points, Hajdusek then connected for another kill to ignite a four-point run to build the Golden Bears' lead to 11-6. The hosts went on to capture the last seven points--taking advantage of several UNE hitting errors--to win the set by 15 points.
The second set saw a quick WNE start at 14-5 and 22-12 before UNE eventually clawed back to actually have a set point, 24-23, on an ace off the serve of Kuehl. Brunette had four kills and the Nor'easters benefitted from seven WNE hitting errors to be on the verge of leveling the match at 1-set apiece.
After a Singh kill to tie it 24-24, UNE went ahead again on a Golden Bears attack error to go up 25-24. WNE took the next three points--and the set for a 2-0 lead in the match--that started with a UNE attack miscue.
Western New England dominated the final stanza wire-to-wire, hitting .300 in the third set to finish at .193 for the match.
The Golden Bears held UNE to .040 hitting in part to seven team blocks and also enjoyed advantages in kills (34-25) and service aces (14-2).
New England Region | Bracket
First Round - Wednesday, November 13
No. 1 Salve Regina 3, No. 8 Emerson 0 Box Score
No. 2 Western New England 3, No. 7 University of New England 0
No. 3 Endicott 3, No. 6 Emmanuel 0 Box Score
No. 4 Smith 3, No. 5 Framingham State 0 Box Score
Semifinals - Saturday, November 16 at Western New England
No. 1 Salve Regina vs. No. 4 Smith, 11 a.m.
No. 2 Western New England vs. No. 3 Endicott, 1 p.m.
Championship - Saturday, November 16 at Western New England
Two Semifinal Winners, 3 p.m.
