DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Sophomore
Lindsey Sanderson (Gilford, N.H.) notched nine kills without an error and classmate
Lilli Stogner (Weare, N.H.) had a match-high 14 kills as Plymouth State University held off UMass Dartmouth, 3-1 (19-25, 25-19, 29-27, 25-19) in Little East Conference (LEC) women's volleyball action at the Tripp Athletic Center on Friday night.
After the hosts led wire-to-wire in the opening set, Plymouth State rebounded to even the match at 1-1. The third set went back-and-forth throughout, with the Panthers maintaining a slight advantage in the late stages. UMD rallied to take a 27-26 lead, but Stogner slammed down a kill and a Corsairs' error and another Stogner winner gave PSU a 29-27 win. Plymouth State pulled away in the middle stages of the fourth set, turning a 15-14 lead into a six-point margin before closing out the match.
Plymouth State wins its third straight match to improve to 5-2 (1-0 LEC), while UMass Dartmouth goes to 3-3 (0-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, UMass Dartmouth 1
- Plymouth State (5-2, 1-0 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth (3-3, 0-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- UMass Dartmouth got out to a hot start and held the lead throughout the opening set. Junior Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) served a pair of aces around a Corsairs' error to pull within one, 9-8, but the hosts recovered and maintained a five-point advantage the rest of the way for a 25-19 win.
- The Panthers came out strong in set two, building a 9-3 advantage after back-to-back kills from Sanderson and junior Aynslee King (Anacortes, Wash.). UMass Dartmouth cut the deficit to 16-14, but Stogner unleashed a thunderous kill and the Panthers would hold the hosts at arms-length the rest of the way for a 25-19 victory.
- PSU looked poised to take the important third set after Sanderson's kill gave the Panthers a 24-22 lead, but UMass Dartmouth got consecutive points to even the score. The teams went back-and-forth, with Plymouth State staving off a set point at 27-26 thanks to another Stogner kill and a UMD error gave the Panthers a fourth set-point. After a lengthy rally, Stogner used the Corsairs' block to close out the 29-27 win.
- Plymouth State raced out to an 8-4 lead behind an early block and kill from senior Natalie Gravelle (Portsmouth, N.H.), but the Corsairs clawed back to tie the game at 13-13. Stogner's kill sparked a five-point run for the Panthers and PSU would maintain the advantage the rest of the way.
By the Numbers:
- Stogner posted another double-double, finishing with 14 kills and 11 digs.
- Ryan chipped in 11 kills, five aces and four blocks, while Sanderson had nine kills on 27 swings without an error (.333).
- Freshman Riley McDonough (Gilford, N.H.) finished with 36 assists, while sophomore Makayla Marucci (Newton, Mass.) led the defense with 19 digs.
- Sophomore Imalay Rodriguez Martinez (Juncos, Puerto Rico) chipped in 12 digs, including several key saves in the important third set.
- Plymouth State improves to 27-2 all-time against the Corsairs. The Panthers have won each of the last 23 meetings.
Up Next:
- PSU is right back in action tomorrow night (Sept. 17) with a 5:00 p.m. non-conference contest at UNE.
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