Statistics

NEWPORT, R.I. -- Andee Bender (CCC 3rd Team) led the way with 12 kills as fourth-seeded Salve Regina University defeated No.5 University of New England, 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-21), in the first round of the 2019 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Women's Volleyball Championship on Tuesday night (Nov. 5) at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

The Seahawks (14-14) advance to meet top-seeded Endicott College in the semifinals on Thursday [Interactive Bracket]. The Nor'easters conclude their winningest season in seven years with a record of 15-7.

After Bender, who added 13 digs for a double-double, Madison Lee tallied 11 kills for SRU. Annie Donahue (CCC 1st Team) put down nine winners, and Olivia Noonan had a team-high 17 assists. Nicole Karabaich (CCC 2nd Team) dropped in five service aces to go with a match-best 18 digs, while Meredith Arancio, Morgan Lee, and Katie Linekin combined for another 35 digs.

For UNE, Katie Flynn (CCC 3rd Team) notched eight kills and eight digs. Sydney Christiansen (CCC 2nd Team) posted a double-double of 18 assists and 11 digs. Katie Marsh (CCC Scholar-Athlete) and Paige Simoneau both recorded 16 digs.

The Nor'easters held an early lead in each set (8-6, 10-8, 13-9), but Salve flipped those deficits with runs of 8-1, 11-2, and 9-3, respectively. A kill by Claire Alden got the visitors back even at 19-all in the 3rd, but winners from Lee and Donahue around a UNE error gave the deciding edge to the hosts.