WVB: Rhode Island College outlasts Lasell on Senior Night

NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell University women's volleyball team went back and forth with Rhode Island College for two hours and 20 minutes Thursday evening, and in the end, RIC spoiled Lasell's Senior Night with a 3-2 victory over the Lasers in a non-conference match at the Athletic Center.

After the visiting Anchorwomen took the first set, 25-22, Lasell bounced back with victories in the next two sets, both by 25-21 scores. RIC forced the decisive set with a 25-18 triumph in the fourth, and pulled out the match with a 15-12 verdict in the final set.

Lasell dropped to 13-8 overall with the loss, while RIC snapped a five-match losing streak and improved to 8-12.

The highlight of the night for Lasell was provided by senior Jess Langan (Burnt Hills, N.Y.), who set up freshman Sabine Milton (San Mateo, Calif.) for a kill early in the fourth set. It was the 2,000th career assist for Langan, making her the fourth player in school history to reach the milestone.

Prior to the match, Langan was joined by fellow senior Juliana Denning (Lathrop, Calif.), Corina Lombardi (York, Maine), and Meg Roberts (Newington, Conn.) as honorees during the Senior Night festivities.

Milton finished with a career-high 21 kills for Lasell on a .306 attack percentage along with five blocks, while classmate Tori Scambray (Brea, Calif.) was one kill shy of a double-double with nine kills and 12 digs. Langan finished with 33 assists, 11 digs and a team-high four service aces, and Lombardi posted a career-high six blocks.

Junior Amelia Murphy (North Attleboro, Mass.) led RIC with 23 kills and 13 digs, and freshman Rhiannon Hodovanec (Feeding Hills, Mass.) was god for 12 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore Aubrey St. Onge (Tilton, N.H.) also posted a double-double with 24 assists and 13 digs.

The Lasers resume Great Northeast Athletic Conference action this Saturday, joined by Johnson & Wales University in a tri-match at Regis College; Lasell will face Regis at noon and JWU at 2 p.m.

-- 30 --