Statistics
BIDDEFORD, Maine – The University of New England volleyball team cruised to its third straight Conference of New England victory on Saturday afternoon, picking up a 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-18) win over Nichols College on Coach Beaudry's Court inside the Harold Alfond Forum.
Hannah Nowell powered the Nor'easters (9-7, 5-3) with a 14-kill, 11-dig double-double – both team highs – all while recording a career-high six aces. With just three errors, her kill total came to the tune of an efficient .367 hitting percentage. Saturday marked the senior's second straight double-double after last weekend's 19-kill, 18-dig effort in a 3-1 win over Roger Williams University.
First-year
Tess Madden recorded 10 kills (.280) with eight digs, while
Josie Eliot was good for four blocks.
Hayley Shult and
Michaela Muldoon combined for 26 assists.
"Overall, it was a very good team effort," head coach Ian Blanchard said. "Today was one of our better serving days, and nice to see our work in practice paying off in that area. Tess played one of her better all-around matches of the season, and has really improved her ball control and diversifying her offense."
Alyssa Morse paced the Bison (5-18, 3-6) with 14 kills at a .323 clip, along with 12 digs. Lena Heini was responsible for another Nichols double-double, compiling 10 digs and 27 assists. The visitors were held to a .145 hitting percentage, while UNE finished at .248.
"I have to give credit to Nichols – they have an unorthodox offensive system that kept us off-balance for much of the match," Blanchard added. "We put a strong emphasis on controlling our side of the net. I think for the most part, we did a very solid job of doing that. We were mostly patient on offense, though I'd like to see us finish games with a bit more urgency."
The Bison held a 6-2 lead in the opening set before an 8-0 run, which included three aces from Nowell (
Watch back-to-back aces), gave the Nor'easters a 10-6 advantage. UNE did not trail again in the frame, but fended off a late 3-0 spurt from the visitors before sealing the victory.
Another 8-0 run in the second set provided the Nor'easters with a commanding 17-7 lead, and despite an ensuing 7-1 run from the Bison, a late ace from
Lylah Shumway and a kill from
Abby Simao (
Watch) helped UNE secure the 2-0 edge.
Eight of Nowell's kills, including the clincher at match point (
Watch), came in the third set. UNE trailed 4-1 early, but began to take control with a 10-2 stretch that vaulted the Nor'easters in front, 11-6.
With UNE currently fifth in the CNE standings, the Nor'easters next match at Wentworth on Tuesday, Nov. 3 (7 p.m.) is one of just two remaining regular season contests.
