Women’s volleyball caps off season with win over Salem State

by Alex Solari, Staff Writer

The women’s volleyball team had a busy week this week, with four games in total. After their last game on Saturday though, the team has ended their season with a 10-18 record and a 0-7 slate in the Little East Conference competition.

On Tuesday, October 25, the Corsairs faced the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen at home. The Anchorwomen were able to obtain a 10-point lead in the first set due to errors by the Corsairs. Two kills by Olivia Wallett and two service aces from first-year Jordan Rittberger brought the gap to only three. However, four kills from Courtney Lambrese helped to bring Rhode Island College to a 25-18 win.

In the second set, the score stayed even until Sierra Smith broke a 14-all tie to open an 11-5 point streak for The Anchorwomen. Lambrese made two kills in the last four points and score ended with 25-19 in RIC’s favor.

The Corsairs had their best hitting performance in the third set, but this wasn’t able to help them conquer the Anchorwomen. The set wrapped up with a 25-20 set on a with Abigayl White securing all 14 of her team’s assists. The Anchorwomen won the match with a score of 3-0.

On Thursday, October 27, UMass Dartmouth faced Suffolk University on the Corsairs’ court. In the first set, the Corsairs started off strong, earning four kills on seven attempts from Silverman to end the set with a 25-13 win. Jordan Rittberger dominated the set, firing three of the Corsairs’ five service aces within just four points.

In the second set, UMass Dartmouth were able to dominate due to Suffolk’s seven errors to just six kills. The Corsairs’ won the set with a score of 25-15, including two more service aces by Rittberger. Kirby completed the kill on Giulia Leite’s serve for the final point.

Suffolk was able to come back with seven kills in the third set, including four by sophomore Chidera Nwankwo. The score went back and forth until Spinazola took the serve with the 19-16 lead, which brought the Corsairs to victory. Wallett ended two potential Ram rallies with kills, which helped the Corsairs to win with a score of 25-18, and an overall score of 3-0.

On Saturday, October 29, the Corsairs faced both the Plymouth State and Salem State on the Plymouth State University court. Their first match was against the Plymouth Panthers.

The Panthers dominated the first set by knocking out 13 kills to UMass Dartmouth’s four, and the score ended with 25-15. In the second set, the Corsairs were able to come back, but still were unable to beat the Panthers with a score of 25-22. Plymouth State was able to beat the Corsairs with a third set score of 25-14 and an overall score of 3-0.

Kirby made five kills, and first-year Jenna Santerre, Silverman, and Rittberger all were able to make two. Sykora dug a match-high 16 balls that went along with three service aces.

The Corsairs ended their season strong with their last match of the season against Salem State. In the first set, the Corsairs made five kills with a match-high .267 hitting percentage. They added eight to the second set with a 25-21 lead and secured a 25-18 margin in the final set, and won with an overall score of 3-0.

During this match, Kayla Kirby fired seven kills, Nicole Silverman fired six, and Christina Spinazola made 11 assists in each match. There was a combined 15 digs against the Salem Vikings by Silverman, Spinazola, and Jillian Sykora, and Sykora and Jordan Rittberger each slammed three service aces.

Great season, women’s volleyball players! See you next year!