Coach Mary Tom Gets 200th Win in Sweep of GNAC Tri-Match

West Hartford, CT- Lasell College's women's volleyball head coach Mary Tom picked up her 200th NCAA career win on Saturday, reaching the milestone as the Lasers defeated St. Joseph College of Connecticut, 3-0, and Simmons College, 3-2, to sweep the Great Northeast Athletic Conference tri-match.

Coach Tom has been with the Lasers for 14 years, beginning in 1997, the year prior to the program becoming an NCAA varsity program. Tom grew the program from a 5-12 record in her first season to an 11-6 record in the following year and back-to-back North Atlantic Conference Championships in 2000 and 2001.  She was awarded NAC Coach of the Year honors in 2004 and has coached seven all conference players, two players of the year, one rookie of the year, and one defensive player of the year during her tenure.  The Lasers have produced seven winning seasons under her direction.  She has amassed a career record of 200-198 over the past 14 years with Lasell.

In her 199^th win, the Lasers defeated Simmons College in five sets, and then swept St. Joseph College of Connecticut in three for her 200^th victory. 

Lasell dropped the first set against Simmons, 25-23, before coming back to seal the second two games 25-21 and 25-14.  After the fourth set went in favor of the Sharks, 25-19, Lasell came back to conclude the match with a two-point edge, 15-13.

Taylor Riley (Greencastle, PA) had an outstanding showing putting away 21 kills and defensively scooping up 26 digs.  The freshman hit a notable .474 clip in the match, swinging away on 38 balls and making only three total errors.  

Danielle Drapeau (Biddeford, ME) lodged 11 kills in the contest and also rejected six attempts by the Sharks with her dominating blocking skills at the net.

Lasell's setter, Meghan Crozier (Ballston Spa, NY) recorded 43 assists in the contest offensively.  In the back-court, Crozier  picked up 17 digs.  The junior setter also scored four points on aces for the Lasers.

Senior Megan Gobeille (Lincoln, RI) and freshman Sarah Eisenberg (Westfield, MA) combined for 25 digs, with Gobeille chipping in with an additional six kills.

In the second contest of the afternoon, the Lasers easily put away the 3-0 contest over the Blue Jays by scores of 25-17, 25-9, and 25-19.

Drapeau was the biggest threat for Lasell, notching 10 kills on 22 total attacks, ending the contest with a .409 hitting percentage.  Drapeau also recorded six blocks in the second contest, four of which were individual, and two in tandem.

Eileen Barrett (Ludlow, MA) was also a force at the net for Lasell, locking up seven blocks, five solo and two assisted.

Crozier tallied 15 assists in the quick match and Riley finished with a team-high eight digs.

Crozier also reached a milestone marker at the tri-match, recording her 2,000 career assist in the match against Simmons.  Croziers career total stands at 2,022 assists in three seasons.

The Lasers (11-17, 6-6 GNAC) will play again on Monday, October 25^th in non-conference action at home against Lesley University.  First serve will take place at 6:00 p.m.