Western New England Falters at Clark, 3-1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Western New Eng. (5-10) | 18 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 1 |
|
Clark University (7-7) | 25 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Matthews records 15 kills, McCormack finishes with 37 assists & six aces
WORCESTER, Mass. (September 27, 2018) – The Western New England University volleyball team had its four-match winning streak halted with a 3-1 (25-18, 15-25, 25-18, 25-18) setback to Clark University on Thursday evening in non-conference action at the Kneller Athletic Center.
Top Performers
Junior Ashley Matthews (Salem, N.H.) led the Golden Bears with a team-high 15 kills to go with eight digs, while sophomore Hailey McDonnell (Methuen, Mass.) added 11 kills and sophomore Jenna McCormack (Nashua, N.H.) produced 37 assists, seven digs and six service aces.
Clark was powered by junior Corina Picon (Irvington, N.Y.), who hit .533 with a match-high 18 kills. Senior Ana Patricia Mercado (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) chipped in with 12 kills, and senior Rachel Webb (Celina, Texas) handed out 38 assists.
Match Review
Clark was able to gain separation with a 6-1 run early in the first set as the Cougars claimed a 10-5 lead. The home team eventually stretched its lead to ten (20-10), before holding off a late Western New England rally to claim a 25-18 triumph.
Western New England bounced back in the second set, as the Golden Bears posted a .577 hitting percentage with 16 kills and one error in 26 attempts. The visitors pulled away down the stretch and evened the match with a 25-15 win.
Clark raced out to an 11-3 advantage in the third frame and the Golden Bears were unable to overcome the deficit as the Cougars took a 2-1 set lead.
Western New England established an 8-2 lead early in the fourth set, but Clark slowly chipped away and closed the gap late in the frame. Trailing 18-17, the Cougars posted an 8-0 run to close out the set and the match.
Notes
• Clark turned in a .286 attack percentage, while the Golden Bears hit .142 as a team.
• Matthews leads the Golden Bears and ranks fifth in the CCC with 147 kills this season.
Up Next
Western New England (5-10) returns home on Saturday to host Westfield State and Eastern Connecticut for a tri-match at the Alumni Healthful Living Center. Clark (7-7) will also be in action on Saturday as the Cougars welcome Rhode Island College and Bridgewater State for a tri-match.
