Lasers Outlast Chargers in Five-Set Thriller for First Win

NEWTON, Mass. (9/7/16) – The Lasell College women's volleyball team overcame an early deficit with a  thrilling 3-2 victory over Colby-Sawyer College in non-conference action on Wednesday evening in the Lasell Athletic Center. The Lasers earn their first win of the season at 1-1, while the Chargers drop to 1-3.

The Chargers jumped in front with a 25-21 victory in the first set, but Lasell came back to take control of the match with 25-17 and 25-21 wins. Colby-Sawyer forced a deciding fifth set by besting the Lasers 25-18 in the fourth, but the home team won ten of the last eleven points to erase a 9-5 deficit and earn a 15-10 win in the decisive fifth game.

Michele Canestro (Castleton, N.Y.) had 19 kills and Olivia Addington (Orange, Calif.) added 18 herself to lead the Laser offense. Each player had a double-double night, with Canestro adding 16 digs and Addington adding ten digs, with each player serving a pair of aces.

Colby-Sawyer was led by the attacking prowess of senior Gabrielle Rodriguez (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), who had 15 kills and a .208 hitting percentage, along with 18 digs and two service aces.

The two teams combined for 216 digs, with Lasell junior Caitlyn Garcia (Moreno Valley, Calif.) racking up a game-high 33 on her own. Classmate Taylor Tiezzi (Meriden, Conn.) had 20 digs herself, along with running the Laser offense to the tune of forty-four assists.

Elyssa Clairmont (Sanbornton, N.H.) assisted on 29 points for the Chargers and had 12 digs herself, while Rebecca Straubel (Altamont, N.Y.) and Lexi Strong (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) led the way with 20 kills apiece.

Micaela Cardozo (Woodbridge, Conn.) had a strong night on both sides of the ball for Colby-Sawyer, registering eight kills and 13 digs.

Meredith Eagan (North Andover, Mass.) was in on five blocks and added six kills for Lasell to wrap up the thrilling victory.

The Lasers will travel to Dartmouth, Mass. on Saturday, September 10 for a tri-match against the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs and Eastern Nazarene, and will begin their day at 12:00 p.m.

Colby-Sawyer looks to bounce back this Friday, September 9 in Nashua, N.H. against Daniel Webster and Rivier University.