BOSTON, Mass. - UMass Boston Women's Volleyball did battle with Vermont State University Castleton on Saturday afternoon, eventually pulling out a dramatic clinching victory in the fourth set to send the fans home happy on senior day.

THE BASICS
UMass Boston 3, Vermont State University Castleton 1

UMass Boston (14-9, 4-3 LEC)
Vermont State University Castleton (6-14, 0-7 LEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Saturday's opening set was a back-and-forth affair with the Beacons opening up leads and the Spartans quickly erasing them. A pair of kills from Paige Coulson and Dylan Wertzberger had the hosts up 21-18 with an opportunity to close out. The Spartans continued to fight, however, stringing together a 5-3 run to trail by just one, 24-23. Coulson came to the rescue for UMass Boston, using an assist from Melina Sullivan to send home the set-clinching kill.

The second set was another in which neither side could build out a commanding lead. Late in the set, a kill from Livia Trindade and a service ace from Sullivan flipped a 23-22 deficit into a 24-23 lead and a match point opportunity. The Spartans stole that opportunity right back, putting together a 3-0 run to tie the match at one set apiece.

Set number three saw the most comfortable win for either side. After Castleton cut the Beacons' lead to 14-11, the hosts closed out the set on an 11-2 run. Four of the final 11 UMass Boston points came via Trindade kills.

The Beacons opened up the fourth set on a 10-0 run, on pace for what looked to be another dominant set victory. The Spartans, however, were relentless in their comeback attempt, eventually cutting the lead to 23-21. With the Beacons on the doorstep of a match victory, Castleton pulled out a 3-0 run to earn a match point opportunity. Kills from Coulson and Taryn Broughal put match point in the hands of the Beacons, 25-24. Another Spartan point forced an extended set but it was Broughal who brought the victory home with a kill and a forced error.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Trindade tied a career-high with 18 kills, giving her 108 in just 12 matches played this season
• 14-9 is the Beacons' best record through 23 games since the 2018 season
• Ally Dean led both teams with 24 digs and Ruby Ackerman was the leader in assists with 16
• Broughal added 15 kills, bringing her season total to 155, good for most on the team
• The Beacons are 5-0 all-time against Vermont State Castleton

WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will travel across the city for a rematch of an early season victory against Fisher College at 7 PM on Tuesday, October 31.