BEVERLY, Mass. – On the first day of the 2013 Endicott College Invitational volleyball (3-3) would earn a split as they dropped a 3-0 decision to Roger Williams University before recording a 3-1 victory over Sage College (N.Y.) (1-6) Friday evening.

As a whole the Beacons struggled in both matches but were able to earn the victory in their second match of the two day tournament.  In both matches, the Beacons coaching staff gave almost every player on their 19-man roster an opportunity to step on the floor. 

Match 1 – UMass Boston 0, Roger Williams University 3

Hoping to build some early momentum, the Beacons faced the undefeated Hawks of Roger Williams University in Friday's first match.  The opening game was a back and forth battle which the Hawks were able to take by the final score of 28-26.  From there things went downhill fast for UMB as Roger Williams dominated the second and third games earning 25-14 and 25-11 decisions. 

As a team UMB hit just .077 with freshman middle Julia Murphy (Canton, Mass.) leading the Beacons with seven kills.  Setter Emma Rocha (Boynton Beach, Fla.) recorded 11 assists, while libero Elizabeth Glavan (Edina, Minn.) finished with a team-best 13 digs. 

Match 2 – UMass Boston 3, Sage College (N.Y.) 1

In the second match, UMB dominated their first-time opponents in the opening game as they earned a 25-14 victory.  However, the Gators responded with a dominating win of their own in the second as they defeated the Beacons 25-11.  From there UMB wasted little time retaking control of the match as they handed Sage a 25-17 loss in the third and a 25-11 loss in the fourth.

The second match saw junior Kirsten Morrison (North Reading, Mass.) lead the team with six kills.  Rocha once again led the setters with 22 assists, but it was the return of Megan Pollock (Wilton, Calif.) at the setter position that got that Beacons back on track in the later games.  The senior tallied 12 assists, as she made the switch from hitter back to setter.  At the baseline senior Corrine Porter (Huntington Beach, Calif.) dropped in four serve aces on 13 attempts.  Defensively senior Christine DuPuis took over as libero coming with 12 digs, while freshman Kimie Taketa (Torrance, Calif.) tallied 11 digs of her own.

The Beacons return to action tomorrow when they face Bowdoin College at 12 p.m. and No. 16 Eastern University (Pa.) at 4 p.m. on the final day of the Endicott College Invitational.