PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior
Julia Stoliker (Red Hook, N.Y.) recorded 18 kills, four aces and nine digs for a match-high 22.5 points to pace the Western Connecticut State University women's volleyball squad on Saturday. Rhode Island College still won 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 29-27) at the Murray Center with the Anchorwomen taking the fourth set in extra points.
RIC opened the first set with a 6-0 run, including five straight points on Marina Colonis's serve, and led 7-1. WestConn got within 15-21 on a graduate student Taylor Thompson (West Point, N.Y.) serving run, but the Anchorwomen finished the set, 25-17.
The second set was close until late. Sophomore Hallie Robillard (Middletown, Conn.) lifted WestConn to a 9-6 lead, and rookeie Kyra Courtemanche (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) served an ace for a 13-10 lead. The teams were tied at 14-14 and 16-16 before Sarina Marines served four straight points to put RIC up 22-17. Senior Ali Rondeau (Carmel, N.Y.) got WestConn within 21-24 followed by a Stoliker kill and a service ace, but Rhode Island College closed it out, 25-21.
The Wolves won the third set, 25-23. Robillard served back-to-back aces to turn a 6-6 tie into a 7-6 lead, and the teams stayed within two points the rest of the way. Stoliker finished it with a kill for a 24-23 lead and an ace on set point.
The fourth set was the longest. RIC led 8-4 and 21-18 before WestConn rallied. Stoliker served two straight aces to tie it at 15-15, and the Wolves tied it again at 22-22. The hosts then went ahead 24-22, but Stoliker had two straight kills to tie it at 24-24. After a Rondeau service error, Stoliker notched two more kills to give WestConn a 26-25 lead. Robillard's shot to the floor made it 27-26 and gave the Wolves set point, but Andrayah Williams tied it at 27 with a kill. The Anchorwomen then scored the final two points on kills by Olivia Rollinson and Aliyah Evora, earning the victory.
Sophomore Sophia Siruchek (Campbell Hall, N.Y.) hit .400 with 14 kills and 15.0 points for the Wolves, while Robillard added 12 kills, two aces and 14.0 points. Courtemanche finished with 46 assists, 13 digs and two aces. Thompson added six kills, and freshman Kayla Proscia (Holbrook, N.Y.) chipped in two kills and a block assist. Freshman Sadie Casella (Marlboro, N.Y.) recorded eight digs and sophomore Teagan White (Goffstown, N.H.) had six.
WestConn hit .228 to Rhode Island College's .283 and was outblocked 12-2. Williams had 15 kills, six blocks and 19.5 points for the hosts. Marines notched 13 kills and 17.0 points, and Colonis finished with 12 kills and a match-high-tying 13 digs. Yuleisy Alvelo handed out 30 assists, and Grace Luchka added 16 assists and four aces.
WestConn falls to 4-17 overall and 1-6 in the Little East Conference, while Rhode Island College improves to 12-12 and 2-5. The Wolves return to action at non-league foe Bard College on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
