LEOPARDS CLAW BACK TO WIN IN FIVE

Newton, Mass.- The Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology came back from a 2 set loss to win in five games against Lasell College tonight in women's volleyball action.   

The Lasers opened the first set with fire, winning 25-13.  Senior captains Nicole Wetterman (Dighton, MA) and Kelsey Schmidt (Ballston Spa, NY) were crucial to the Lasers success in the game, with setter Meghan Crozier (Ballston Spa, NY) moving them around to mix up the offense.  

Game two was the Lasers again, opening 19-10 run before the Leopards fought back.  Lasell's defense was scrappy, picking up dumped balls from Wentworth's setter Courtney Zink (East Falmouth, MA) and tipped attacks by middle hitter Julie Bruton (Montgomery, TX).  Lasell's libero, Amanda Major (Southbury, CT), covered the floor, getting to balls that seemed unreachable, giving the Lasers their second set, 25-19.

The teams battled for a lead in game three, the first 14 total points being scored on side outs.  At an 8-7 lead for Wentworth, the Leopards went on a run by Jennifer Giudice (Central Valley, NY) to pick up the advantage, 13-7.  The lead didn't last long as Lasell's Megan Gobeille (Lincoln, RI) served to bring the game back within one point. 

With the teams tied at 23, Bruton found an open spot on the court for the kill to give WIT the advantage.  Giudice then served an ace on game point to give Wentworth the 25-23 win.

Coming off their victory, the Leopards followed suit in the next set, as they came out with renewed energy, utilizing their back row attack, and forcing the middle. Though the lasers kept the game within a couple of points throughout, they couldn't hold on and lost set four 22-25.

The final set of the match could have gone either way, as both teams played intensely, making adjustments and finding opportunities to attack.  The teams went back and forth, point for point from a tie at twelve to a tie at 15, until Danielle Banks (Ellicott City, MD) came up with a huge kill for game point, and Giudice finished the game with a kill, to win the set and match.

The Lasers' blocking was on point throughout the match, with Danielle Drapeau (Biddeford, ME) and Schmidt providing the bulk of the defense on the net.

Major picked up an unprecedented 31 digs in the match, and Crozier and Kayla Binette (Biddeford, ME) had 17 and 11 assists, respectively.

The Leopards' record is now 3-10, and the Lasers are 4-10.  The Lasers pick up conference play on Saturday, October 4th, at 1:00 p.m. in the Athletic Center, when they take on Norwich University.