Oct. 20, 2010

Box Score

UMass Lowell volleyball snapped its two-game losing skid with a resounding 3-0 victory over the Saint Anselm Hawks on Wednesday night. It was only the third three set sweep for the River Hawks this season.

The win moves UMass Lowell back above .500 on the campaign at 10-9 overall and 5-4 in the Northeast-10. The struggles continue for Saint Anselm as it falls to 2-13 on the season and 1-9 in conference action.

The River Hawks jumped out a 1-0 lead with a 25-18 win in the opening set. Senior Jillian Hadder (Yucaipa, Calif.) led the charge with three kills and an ace.

UMass Lowell started on a 9-2 run to take control of the second frame, but the Hawks clawed back to draw the score to 13-11. The teams continued to exchange blows until the River Hawks scored five straight points to nab the 25-18 victory. Hadder picked up five more kills and five digs, while senior Sarah Coscia (Pittsfield, Mass.) tallied four kills and two blocks. Setter Kristina Wiltjer (San Diego, Calif.) also heated up in the second set, distributing eight assists.

UMass Lowell put Saint Anselm away in the third set. The River Hawks went on another big run, 12-0, to take a 22-9 lead before securing a 25-19 match sealing victory. Coscia took charge with seven kills and three blocks, while Wiltjer dished out 13 assists.

For the evening, Coscia finished with 13 kills and six blocks. Her counterpart, Hadder, tallied 12 kills, eight digs and two aces. Wiltjer coordinated the UMass Lowell attack with 28 assists and six digs.

Senior Vicky Wong (Tewksbury, Mass.) was the lone River Hawk to reach double-digit digs, finishing with 15.

Saint Anselm was led by Lauren Ross (Dracut, Mass.) who had eight kills.

Back on the winning track, UMass Lowell now returns home for a Saturday afternoon contest against Southern New Hampshire at 1 p.m.