BOSTON, Mass. – Volleyball continued their recent hot streak as they handed two team's their first losses of the 2014 season with a 3-1 victory over Salisbury University (9-1) and a 3-2 win over Williams College (4-1) Friday evening in the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium on the first day of the UMass Boston Invitational. 

Friday's victories extends the Beacons win-streak to six straight matches as they improved to 7-3 on the year. 

In the first-ever meeting between UMass and Salisbury, the Beacons took the opening game 25-21, but were edged in game two by the Sea Gulls 25-23.  In the third it was all UMass as they cruised to a 25-12 decision.  The Beacons would then pull out a 27-25 victory in the fourth to end Salisbury historic run at nine straight games.

For the nightcap, fans were treated to a true battle of two of the top teams in New England.  In a rematch of last year's NCAA Regional Tournament championship, the Beacons and Ephs of Williams College battled back-and-forth for over two hours.  In total the score was tied an amazing 38 times, with the lead changing hands a total of 14 times.

Game one would go to the visitors in the form a 25-23 decision.  The Beacons would battle back in game two to tie the match at 1-1 with a 25-20 victory.  Williams regained control of the lead in the third with a 25-20 win of-their-own.  With their backs up against the wall UMass came out firing in the fourth, and sucked the wind out of the Ephs' sails with a 25-18 win.  The Beacons control most of the fifth and final game, and managed to hold off a late push by Williams to earn a 15-12 victory.

UMass Boston 3, Salisbury University 1

In the first match of their tournament, senior Kirsten Morrison (North Reading, Mass.) put together a dominating performance with her 10 kills and .435 hitting percentage.  Blair Boyer (Encinitas, Calif.) also had a strong opening match, scoring 10 kills of her own.  Defensively, Elizabeth Glavan (Edina, Minn.) had her second 30+ dig performance of the season, as she finished with 33 in the victory. 

Setter Emma Rocha (Boynton Beach, Fla.) totaled 26 assists, while sophomore Pepper Baker (Tallahassee, Fla.) finished with 16 helpers.  Bri Sousa (Swansea, Mass.) threw-down three block assists, while Julia Murphy (Canton, Mass.) recorded one solo stop and two block assists.

UMass Boston 3, Williams College 2

The second match of the evening for both teams turned into a marathon affair that could have gone either way.  Looking for some payback from last year's regional championship, Williams had their eyes set on taking down the Beacons on their home floor, especially after their one-sided 3-0 victory over Salisbury University.  Last season, the Beacons defeated Williams 3-1 to punch their second straight ticket to the NCAA Championship tournament, which they did on the Ephs home floor.

Knowing that Williams would be hungry for a victory, the Beacons played some of their best volleyball in the opening frame, and just missed out on taking a 1-0 lead.  After the back-and-forth exchanges in the next two games, the Beacons flipped a switch in game four, and took control of the match with a strong team effort.

By the fifth, both teams were completely exhausted and it showed as neither team was able to establish any consistency.  The final point of the evening would be decided by Morrison as she drove down a hard ball in the middle of the Williams players to give UMass the 3-2 victory. 

The North Reading native was one of three players to finish with 10 or more kills in the victory, as she recorded a team-best .360 hitting percentage.  Murphy led the match with 17 kills and hit .268, while Boyer finished with 10 kills to help the Beacons offense.

Rocha finished the victory with a season-high 30 assists, while Baker walked away with 23.  Glavan once again dominated the back-row with her 32 digs.  At the net Sousa finished with six total blocks (3bs, 3ba) with Baker finishing right behind her with one solo block and two block assists.

Volleyball returns to action tomorrow when they face Middlebury College at 11 a.m. and Whitman College (Wash.) at 3 p.m. EST.