Box Score

WENHAM, Mass. -- Leah Janelle totaled a match-high 16 kills, and the University of New England fended off a comeback bid by host Gordon College to take a 3-2 win in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's volleyball match played Tuesday evening (Sept. 30) at the Bennett Center. Set scores were 25-21, 18-25, 25-21, 23-25 and 15-9.

The Nor'easters, who have now won seven consecutive meetings with Gordon, improved to 4-9 overall and 2-1 in conference play. The Fighting Scots stand at 7-9 and are winless in three CCC matches.

Trailing 2-1, Gordon forced a fifth and deciding set by holding on, 25-23, in the fourth frame after Big Blue had trailed by 10 (23-13). The Nor'easters jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the final set before Gordon raced back to pull within one at 10-9. UNE would close out the match by recording the final five points, thanks in part to three attack errors by the hosts.

Janelle's career-best 16 kills came on 48 total attacks with just three errors. She also added 11 digs. Courtney Lambrese contributed seven kills and five total blocks, while Grayson Szczepaniak added five kills, three block assists and a pair of service aces. Brooke Gibbons continued her strong play with 29 assists and 22 digs. Libero Nikki Mathewson was strong in the back row with 19 digs.

Faith Gerdes had 13 kills for Gordon, while Jessica Burdick and Laura Schmidt registered 11 apiece. Maggie Risma was credited with a match-high 30 digs.

Saturday, the Nor'easters will participate in the Crabtree Classic hosted by Eastern Connecticut State University. UNE opens play versus Framingham State at noon, followed by matches with host ECSU (2 p.m.) and Wheaton (4 p.m.).