WVB: Lasell tops Saint Joseph (Conn.) in five sets; Perez Diaz totals 24 kills

NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell University women's volleyball team defeated the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) Blue Jays in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match Wednesday night in the Athletic Center. (23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 15-12)

The Lasers stop a two-game losing skid and improve to 7-15 overall and 4-3 in conference. The Blue Jays fall to 7-11 and 1-8 in conference.

Sophomore Kiana Perez Diaz (Juncos, P.R) finished with her tenth double-double on the season with a match-high 24 kills and 23 digs. Amanda DiLeonardo (West Haven, Conn.) added to the offense with 12 kills, along with sophomore Meg Roberts (Newington, Conn.) who totaled 10 kills on the match.

In the final set, the score was tied at 7-7 and a kill from sophomore Corina Lombardi (York, Maine) gave the Lasers the lead at the switch. The Lasers took a 14-12 advantage on a kill from DiLeonardo and an error from the Blue Jays ended the match 15-12 in favor of the Lasers.

Lasell got off to a slow start going down 17-10. A kill from Perez Diaz sparked a seven point run to bring the home team back and tie the score at 17. Saint Joseph would go on to close out the set 25-22.

The second set was the opposite of the first. Lasell came out with an 18-12 lead but, the Blue Jays climbed their way out and came back within two at 22-20. The Lasers grabbed the set, 25-23 with a kill from Perez Diaz.

Saint Joseph would bounce back from the set two loss and take the third set 25-22. The Lasers responded well in the fourth with a victory of their own after leading the entire set following a 3-2 lead.

The Lasers would continue on to win in the fifth set 15-12.

Lasell returns to action in the Athletic Center on Saturday, October 19 for a tri-match against Rivier University, and Norwich College. Saint Joseph hits the court again for a tri-match of their own on Saturday, October 19 against Salem State, and MCLA.

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