WVB: Lasers sweep past Bridgewater State on Alysha Rentas Night at Lasell

NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell University women's volleyball team remembered a fallen teammate Thursday evening prior to sweeping Bridgewater State University, 3-0, in non-conference women's volleyball action at the Lasell Athletic Center.

The Lasers won by set scores of 25-16, 25-17 and 25-20. Lasell has won four in a row and eight of its last 10 to up its record to 10-5, while BSU drops to 4-6 overall.

Freshman Sabine Milton (San Mateo, Calif.) led the Lasers with 11 kills and a .280 attack percentage. Classmate Tori Scambray (Brea, Calif.) added nine winners and freshman Mckenna McCool (Loomis, Calif.) was good for seven kills, a .400 attack percentage and a team-high 10 digs. Milton and MCCool also had four service aces apiece, and senior Jess Langan (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) had 24 set assists.

The Bears were led by senior Sydney Rice (Medway, Mass.), who made five kills, and sophomores Abigail Reardon (Fairhaven, Mass.) and Amber Arruda (Swansea, Mass.), who added four each. Junior Victoria Caiano (Acushnet, Mass.) recorded a match-high 12 digs.

Lasell jumped out to a 6-1 lead early in the first set before BSU battled back, cutting the margin to one point (7-6). The Lasers later went on a 10-3 run to extend its lead to 21-11, and put away the set by a 25-16 verdict.

The Laser exploded for 10 unanswered point early in the second set, turning a 5-3 lead into a 15-3 advantage. Milton had two kills and two aces to spark the Laser rally. That margin proved to be too much for BSU to overcome and Lasell went on to a 25-17 win in the middle set.

The Bears would not go down without a fight, and held leads of 4-0 and 9-3 in the third set. Lasell rallied to tie the score at 9-all, but BSU pulled back ahead, 13-9. The Lasers rallied with a 9-1 run, taking the lead for good (18-14) before closing out the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-0.

Prior to the match, Lasell honored former teammate Alysha Rentas, who would have been a senior on this year's team but was killed in an automobile accident back in August. Members of Alysha's family were welcomed back for the ceremony.

The Lasers will be back in action this Saturday for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match at Anna Maria College with Albertus Magnus College. The Bears will look to get back on track Saturday at Nichols College.

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