DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Despite a career high 39 digs from Mount Ida junior libero Kelcey Koolman (Bedford, N.H.), the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth volleyball team defeated the Mustangs in four sets on Tuesday evening at the Tripp Athletic Center, 21-25, 25-21, 21-25 and 23-25.
The Corsairs improve to 7-9 on the year, while the Mustangs slip to 4-12. The Mustang's next contest is tomorrow at 6 pm in a home matchup against Becker.
For Mount Ida, Mary Kate Reidy (Agawam, Mass.) led the offensive charge with a game-high 13 kills. Senior Nicole Peixoto (New Bedford, Mass.) distributed 29 assists, while Taylor Davis (Machiasport, Me.) had eight kills and complimented Koolman's effort with 25 digs of her own.
Koolman had previously tied her personal record earlier this year with 29 digs in a match against Anna Maria, but bested that mark by ten on Tuesday night.
Every game came down to the end with neither team showing the ability to successful control the tempo of any of the four sets in this non-conference matchup.
The Corsairs took advantage of Mount Ida's attacking errors (11), while limiting themselves to only to only three in a 25-21 win in the opening set. In the second set, the Mustangs charged out to a 7-1 advantage, only to have the Corsairs stormed back to tie the set at 19-19. Down the stretch, the Mustangs limited their mistakes and took Game 2.
The two teams battled it out in the early stages of Game 3. After evening the set at 16 all, the Corsairs went on a 5-0 run (21-5), highlighted by a pair of service aces from junior Eliza Bowes (West Yarmouth, Mass.). UMass Dartmouth squeaked out a 25-21 win, duplicating the final score of the opening two sets. In the fourth set, senior Madison Shea (Millis, Mass.) gave the home team a late three point cushion (21-18) with her lone service ace of the match.
Mustang sophomore Lucianna Medici (Riverside, R.I.) had 18 digs and Peixoto had ten herself as the Mustangs racked up 128 total digs as a team. Peixoto served a pair of aces, while Davis had a solo block and two assists.
Junior Shannon Orton (Swansea, Mass.) and Bowes each tallied 8 kills for the Corsairs. Junior Carina Filosa (Milford, Mass.) and Bowes found their groove at the service line, each compiling a trio of aces. Sophomore Christina Spinazola (Medway, Mass.) handed out 18 assists, while junior Brianna Perry (Acushnet, Mass.) matched the Mustangs offensive efforts, recording 41 digs on the game.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action tomorrow night when the Corsairs host Suffolk at 7 pm.