PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Alice Borriello Diaz (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) posted six aces, including five during an eight-point run in the second set, as Plymouth State University swept Western Connecticut State University, 3-0 (25-16, 25-8, 25-21) in Little East Conference (LEC) women's volleyball action at Foley Gymnasium during Homecoming weekend on Saturday morning.
The Panthers held a two-point edge, 12-10, in the opening set before Borriello Diaz served four straight points to open up a comfortable 16-10 lead. A late service run by sophomore
Sya McKay (Somersworth, N.H.) extended the lead to nine, and the Panthers would coast to a 25-16 win.
Set two was all Plymouth State. Borriello Diaz stepped to the line with a 6-1 lead, then ran off eight straight points, including five aces, to put the set out of reach, 25-8.
WestConn attempted to rally in the third set, going ahead by as many as four points early. PSU answered, knotting the score at 13-13, then pulling in front by five, 21-16. The Wolves cut the deficit to one, 22-21, but McKay had a pair of kills in a match-clinching three-point run to seal the sweep.
Plymouth State improves to 11-3 (2-0 LEC), while the Wolves fall to 3-12 (1-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, WestConn 0
- Plymouth State (11-3, 2-0 LEC)
- WestConn (3-12, 1-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Junior Sydney Riley (Haverhill, Mass.) slammed back-to-back kills, and consecutive WestConn errors forced a timeout with PSU leading 10-5. The visitors pulled within two, 12-10, but McKay stopped the run with a kill, and Borriello Diaz served the Panthers to a 16-10 lead. McKay extended the margin to nine, 22-13, and PSU wrapped up the 25-16 win on a missed serve.
- A Borriello Diaz kill ignited the Panthers on an early run in set two. McKay's kill made it 5-0 before a WestConn sideout. Emerson responded with a kill, setting up Borriello Diaz's serving run. WestConn took a timeout down 8-1, and Borriello Diaz followed with four consecutive aces as the advantage ballooned to 14-1. The Panthers coasted from there, with McKay's kill clinching the 25-8 win.
- The Wolves went ahead early in set three, using a block to take a 12-8 lead. PSU responded with an 8-1 spurt to jump in front, and the Panthers did not trail again. WestConn made a late push to pull within one, 21-20, and force a timeout, but Riley slammed a kill out of the break, and PSU scored three of the next four points to secure the sweep.
By the Numbers:
- McKay posted a team-high nine kills and two blocks, while Riley added eight kills and five blocks.
- Borriello Diaz finished with four kills, six aces and eight digs.
- Senior Christa Imbriano (Wakefield, Mass.) recorded a match-best 21 digs.
- Plymouth State held the Wolves to a .065 attack percentage for the match.
- PSU hit .476 (13-3-21) in the second set.
- Plymouth State has won each of the last nine meetings to tie the all-time series, 25-25.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State travels to Keene State on Wednesday (Oct. 7) for a 6 p.m. match with the Owls.
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