WVB: Lasell sweeps GNAC pair from Anna Maria and Albertus Magnus

PAXTON, Mass. – The Lasell University women's volleyball team extended its winning streak to six matches Saturday, sweeping a pair of Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matches inside the Fuller Center at Anna Maria College.

The Lasers took the opening match against the host Amcats by set scores of 25-22, 25-12, and 25-11, and followed with a triumph over Albertus Magnus College by scores of 25-23, 25-22, and 25-16. Lasell, which has won five in a row by 3-0 scores, is now 12-5 overall and 4-1 in GNAC matches, while Anna Maria is 4-12 and 0-5 and Albertus Magnus is 2-13 and 0-5.

The Lasers will look to extend their winning streak this Wednesday with a 6:00 p.m. GNAC encounter at Norwich University.

Lasell 3, Anna Maria 0 (25-22, 25-12, 25-11)

Freshman Mckenna McCool (Loomis, Calif.) was the big hitter for Lasell in the win over the Amcats, posting a triple-double in the victory. She pounded a season-high 17 kills with a sparkling .481 attack percentage (17-4-27), and she registered 16 digs and 13 service aces, second most in a match in school history and one ace shy of the school record.

The Lasers also got nine kills from freshman Sabine Milton (San Mateo, Calif.) and seven kills and 11 digs from classmate Camila Lopez (Barquisimeto, Venezuela). Senior Jess Langan (Burnt Hills, N.H.) ran the offense and finished with 29 set assists.

Lasell leaped out to 9-1 lead in the first set, capped by three aces by McCool. The Lasers led 19-11 and seemed in control, but Anna Maria came alive and went on an 11-3 tear to tie the score at 22-22. After a timeout, Lasell pulled out the set on three straight kills, two by McCool and the clincher by senior Meg Roberts (Newington, Conn.)

The second set was close early on, with Lasell leading just 8-6, but the Lasers got hot and posted eight straight points to extend the lead to 16-6. The visitors recorded the final five points to win the set and take a 2-0 lead, including kills by McCool and Roberts and a pair of aces by McCool.

The third set was all Lasers as they surged to a 16-1 lead, largely on the serving of McCool, who recorded eight aces in the process. That was too much for the home team to overcome as Lasell coasted to the victory.

Lasell 3, Albertus Magnus 0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-16)

Milton led the Lasers in the nightcap, posting 14 kills with a .333 attack percentage (14-5-27) along with seven digs. McCool and Lopez added seven winners apiece to supplement the Laser attack. Sophomore Isabelle Babcock (York, Maine) also made four service aces along with a team-high 11 digs. Freshman Juliana Medini (Roxbury, N.J.) contributed five kills and a five blocks, and Langan was good for 26 set assists.

The first set was close much of the way, with the score tied at 13-all. After Albertus took a one-point lead, Lasell answered with six straight points, keyed by a kill from Milton and two from freshman Tori Scambray (Brea, Calif.). The Falcons came back to tie the score at 23-all, but after a Lasell timeout, Albertus made two attack errors to give the Lasers the victory.

The Falcons had the advantage a good portion of the second set, leading 17-9 and looking to even the match at one set apiece, but Lasell would not have that. The Lasers rallied with five straight points to close the gap, and then down 22-16, ran off nine straight points on Langan's serving to win the set. Langan had three aces in the surge and then set up Milton for a kill to clinch the set.

The third set was also close early on, with the Falcons leading 9-8, but Lasell came alive with a 10-2 rally, capped by three straight aces by McCool, to take control. Albertus got no closer than five points the rest of the way, and Lasell clinched the match on back-to-back aces by Babcock.

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