Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Led by Bri Sousa (Swansea, Mass.) career-high .750 hitting percentage, and Julia Murphy's (Canton, Mass.) 10 kills volleyball pulled out a hard fought victory as they defeated Rhode Island College by the final of 3-0 Wednesday evening at the Murray Center.
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 3, Rhode Island College 0
UMass Boston (7-12, 4-1 Little East Conference)
Rhode Island College (16-9, 2-3 Little East Conference)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After cruising to a 25-15 win in the first set, the Beacons struggled in the second, but with a huge 13-4 run to close out the frame, the Beacons earned a 25-23 win to take total control of the match. The third frame was all UMass Boston as they dominated the Anchorwomen 25-16.
On the night Sousa, posted 10 kills on 12 attempts, and was charged with just one hitting error. Murphy was just as solid, as she hit .370 to keep the Beacons atop the conference standings.
Junior setter Pepper Baker (Tallahassee, Fla.) posted a combined 18 assists, to lead the Beacons offense, which hit .271 on the night. Baker now sits just seven assists, away from recording her 1,000th, which would make her just the eighth player in program history to reach that mark.
Also having a big game for the Beacons was freshman Rachel Maslach (Berlin Center, Ohio), as she combined for 15 assists. Emily Steinberg (Moorpark, Calif.) led the defensive effort, with her career-high 12 digs, while junior Elizabeth Glavan (Edina, Minn.) finished with nine. At the net Sousa and Murphy combined for nine block assists respectively, while Haley Diedrick (Canton, Mich.) tallied three.
BY THE NUMBERS
- With the win the Beacons are now 15-24 all-time against Rhode Island College
- UMass Boston has now won 13 straight matches, with 10 of those victories coming by a 3-0 finish
- Sousa's .750 hitting percentage marked a season-high for all players in a three match victory
- The Beacons now tied for first place in the conference with a 4-1 record alongside Keene State College. UMB defeated Keene State earlier this year by the final of 3-0
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will host their annual UMass Boston Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Beacons first match of the tournament is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m.
