Ray notches double-double
Bruce collected a team-best three blocks (one solo) at Massachusetts Lowell on Tuesday night.
|
LOWELL, Mass. (September 20, 2011) – Sophomore middle Natasha Ray (Colorado Springs, Colo.) notched her sixth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 14 digs on Tuesday night, but the Franklin Pierce University volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to Massachusetts Lowell in Northeast-10 Conference play at Costello Gym. Freshman outside hitter Hannah Rey put together a 12-kill, 14-dig double-double of her own in the victory for Lowell.
With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 5-6 (0-1 Northeast-10), while Massachusetts Lowell improves to 6-3 (3-1 Northeast-10). After Lowell took the first two sets, 25-16 and 25-23, Franklin Pierce fought back with a 25-23 win in the third set. However, the River Hawks would prove too much, as Lowell took the fourth set, 25-19, to finish off the match.
For Franklin Pierce, Ray led the way with her double-double, and was joined in double digits on the offensive side of the net by freshman outside hitter Catie Swiderski (Rocky Point, N.Y.), who hammered out 13 kills. The duo worked off the set of sophomore Stephanie Svorinic (Scottsdale, Ariz.), who dished out 29 assists. Swiderski served up three aces on the evening.
Defensively, sophomore libero Lauren Miller (Alexandria, Ind.) led three Ravens in double digits with 22 digs. She would be joined by Ray's 14 digs and 10 from Svorinic, who completed her second double-double of the season. Sophomore middle Ashley Bruce (Hampton Falls, N.H.) led the team with three blocks (one solo).
For Lowell, freshman outside hitter Ella Merrill joined Rey as the second River Hawk with a double-double, as Merrill finished with 11 kills and 10 digs. Meanwhile, senior middle Lea Freeman hit a match-best .387 (minimum 10 attempts) as she finished with a match-high 14 kills while committing just two errors over 31 swings. Lowell ran the offense through junior setter Kristina Wiltjer, who dished out 44 assists.
Defensively, sophomore defensive specialist Carolyn Eddy led the way with 15 digs and was joined in double figures by Rey (14), Wiltjer (11) and Merrill (10). Freeman and senior middle Trina Carroll each matched Bruce with three blocks.
The Ravens return to the court on Saturday, Sept. 24, when they hold their home opener against New Haven in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at the Fieldhouse in Rindge.
For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).
