Oct. 23, 2010
Box Score
After dropping the first two sets, the River Hawk volleyball team rallied with three straight victories to defeat Southern New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon in the Costello Gym. The match marked just the second time this season that UMass Lowell has won after getting behind 0-2.
The Northeast-10 victory improves the River Hawks' record to 11-9 overall this season and 6-4 in conference action. The loss drops Southern New Hampshire to 9-9 on the campaign and 5-4 in the NE-10.
The Penmen jumped out to a 3-13 lead and appeared just a step ahead of the River Hawks in the first set. Despite the deficit, UMass Lowell was able to virtually erase the score, battling back to trail just one-point at 19-20. Southern New Hampshire buckled down however and pulled out the next couple of points to take the set 20-25.
The troubles continued for the River Hawks in the second as they fell 24-26. The Penmen forced UMass Lowell to make mistakes and after two sets, the River Hawks had committed 20 errors to Southern New Hampshire's 8.
Down 0-2, the River Hawks bounced back with a fury, tearing through the Penmen defense for a 25-17 win. Sarah Coscia (Pittsfield, Mass.) found her rhythm, striking six kills and five blocks as UMass Lowell hit with a .357 attack percentage.
Topping their efforts in the four frame, the River Hawks struck with a .407 attack percentage in a 25-16 victory to knot the match at 2-2. In addition to the offensive pressure, UMass Lowell ratcheted up its defense as Carolyn Eddy (Dracut, Mass.) and Kristina Wiltjer (San Diego, Calif.) each tallied six digs.
With a world of momentum heading into the decisive fifth set, the River Hawks pulled out a 15-10 win. Striking with a .556 attack percentage, UMass Lowell leaned on Jillian Hadder (Yucaipa, Calif.) who landed five kills.
For the match, Hadder led her team with 17 kills, 10 digs and three service aces. She was joined by Coscia who had 14 kills and 11 total blocks.
Quarterbacking the offense, Wiltjer dished out 38 assists, 16 digs and eight kills. The talented setter also landed four service aces and four blocks.
Defensively, Eddy and Vicky Wong (Tewksbury, Mass.) tied Wiltjer with a match-high 16 digs.
With the win in the books, the River Hawks will now turn their attention to St. Michael's who stops by the Costello Gym on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
