WVB: Lasell drops non-conference match at Eastern Nazarene

MILTON, Mass. – The Lasell University women's volleyball team came up short Thursday evening in a non-conference match at Eastern Nazarene College, falling in straight sets for the second straight night.

The host Lions won by set scores of 25-21, 25-15, and 25-14. The Lasers, who were swept a night earlier in a road match at Norwich University, fell to 12-7 overall, while ENC upped its record to 11-9 overall.

The Laser offense couldn't get on track and recorded as many attack errors as kills (27) for a .000 attack percentage. Freshmen Sabine Milton (San Mateo, Calif.) managed to post a team-high 10 kills and eight digs, and Tori Scambray (Brea, Calif.) contributed eight winners. Senior Jess Langan (Burnt Hills, N.H.) contributed 26 set assists and seven digs.

Sophomore Telma Zelaya (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) had a strong night for the Lions, recording a triple-double with 10 kills (.391 attack percentage), 12 assists and 13 digs. Freshman Emma Graves (Berkshire, N.Y.) pounded down eight winners and five blocks, and classmate Anna Burbach (Milford, N.H.) was good for six kills and a .312 attack percentage.

With Lasell leading 8-4 in the opening set, ENC ran off seven straight points to take the lead. The teams went back and forth with the Lions maintaining a small lead until a four-point surge put the home team ahead 23-17. Lasell answered with four points of its own to pull back to within two points, but back-to-back Laser attack errors gave the set to the Lions.

Another Eastern Naz surge early on in the second set gave the hosts the upper hand, turning a 5-4 Lasell advantage into a 13-5 ENC lead. The Lions opened up a double-digit lead (17-7) on the way to a 25-15 verdict in the second set.

The home team raced to a 10-4 lead in the third set and never looked back, reaching a double-digit advantage at 17-7 before closing out the win with a 25-14 score in the final set.

The Lasers will look to get back on track on Saturday, hosting a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match with Emmanuel College and Simmons University at the Lasell Athletic Center, beginning at 11 a.m. ENC is home again Saturday, hosting Lesley at 2 p.m.

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