BOSTON – Emmanuel women's volleyball improved to 3-0 on Friday night, making their season debut on home court while completing a straight sets sweep (25-16, 25-15, 25-22) over the Sarah Lawrence Gryphons on Yosinoff Court.
The Saints are 3-0 for the first time since 2004, a year in which the program started 11-1. Sarah Lawrence drops to 1-2 following Friday's loss.
After a close start to the opening set, the Saints broke open the first frame with the help of an 11-2 spurt and a 23-13 lead. Senior Isabella Marquez had three kills in the run while junior Scheala Nielsen added a pair of kills. Back-to-back attack errors by the Gryphons would eventually lead to Emmanuel taking the first, 25-16.
A 6-0 start to the second was all the space the Saints needed to win the set. The Gryphons closed to within three in the middle of the set, but Emmanuel fired off four points in a row to take back control. The home side closed the set with another 4-0 run, including a pair of service aces by sophomore Frances Ramos Rodriguez, on the way to a 25-15 set win.
In the third, Sarah Lawrence appeared poised to force a fourth set, leading for the majority of the play, including a six-point lead late in the set at 20-14. Emmanuel closed the gap to four as junior Kason Huynh stepped to the service line. The third-year setter wouldn't allow another chance for the Gryphons, as the Saints closed the match with the final seven points, winning the third set, 25-22.
Nielsen and Marquez equaled the match-high, both recording 13 kills while Nielsen hit .320 from the floor. Sophomore Letitia Bossou added seven kills and a match-best eight total blocks. Huynh posted a season-high 34 assists in the win.
For the Gryphons, Athena Kazos led the visitors with eight kills to go along with nine digs. First-year Brynn Beck added seven kills and five total blocks, while hitting an impressive .500 from the floor.
The Saints return to play tomorrow morning with a tri-match against Rhode Island College and Westfield State, hosted at RIC. The Gryphons also head into a tri-match on Saturday, facing Regis and Wentworth, hosted by Regis.
