Twice as Nice, Gulls Go Back-to-Back
Nov. 3, 2007
BEVERLY, MA - The Endicott College women's volleyball team erased a two games to one deficit to complete an improbable comeback, capturing their second-straight The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship with a 3-2 win over Colby-Sawyer College on Saturday afternoon in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Endicott and Colby-Sawyer exchanged points in the early moments of a highly charged game one. The Chargers built a four point lead, 16-12, thanks in part to back-to-back individual efforts by Genny Moore (Centerville, MA/Barnstable). The Gulls responded by taking four of the next six scores, pulling within two at 18-16. Following a Colby-Sawyer timeout, the Gulls were able to narrow the deficit to one, 21-20; however the Chargers notched consecutive points to regain a three point advantage. Endicott answered the challenge by rattling off three straight scores including a kill by senior Beth Dow (Pocasset, MA/Bourne), making it a one-point game once again. In the end, the Chargers would prove to be too strong, winning the opening frame 30-26.
Endicott raced out to a 5-2 advantage to begin game two. Colby-Sawyer fired back with a strong kill by Montana Molyneux (Inglewood, Ontario/Peel Alt. North), pulling her team back within one at 6-5. The next six points would belong to Endicott, as the Gulls were led by the serving efforts of Brittany Nolan (Monroe, CT/Masuk). Colby-Sawyer went on a run of its own, capped off by a nicely placed shot by Kristen Romanko (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) to cut the EC lead to two. Following an Endicott timeout, the Chargers continued their push as they grabbed two more straight points to earn their first lead of the game. Endicott rallied from behind and ran away with the final moments of second contest, sealing the victory 30-25.
It was all Chargers to open game three, as they rolled out to a 7-0 lead. Endicott retaliated with three-straight scores of its own, slicing the oppositions advantage to four. CSC took advantage of every error the Blue and Green committed, building a commanding 18-9 lead midway through game three. A huge block upfront for the visitors by Genny Moore and Kristen Romanko further distanced the Chargers lead, putting CSC ahead 25-12. Endicott had no answers in game three, falling 30-17.
With their backs against the wall, the Gulls fell into an early 4-2 hole to start game four. Endicott was able to battle its way back to even, and then pull ahead on two service aces by Brittany Nolan. Moments later, EC's Ally Murphy (Gilford, NH/Gilford) showed great body control as she registered a diving dig, setting up Amy Grigg (Vernon, CT/Rockville) for a kill to put the Gulls up 15-11. With the score 22-18 in favor of Endicott, Brittany Phillips (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln Sudbury) put the Gulls up five on a nifty drop shot over the CSC frontline. Colby-Sawyer responded by taking six of the next eight scores, evening the contest at 24-all. Endicott registered four straight points, only to have the Chargers come back with three of their own, making it a 28-27 game in favor of the home team. Brittany Phillips ended any comeback thoughts for the Chargers as she nailed a game winning kill, forcing a game five with the 30-28 win.
The decisive game five began with each side trading a point. From there, the Gulls rallied to take the next three scores. A Colby-Sawyer red card awarded the Gulls and extra point, putting the home team up 5-1. There was no stopping the Blue and Green as back-to-back points including a hard kill on the far side from Steph Wiese (Higganum, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) put EC up six. With all the momentum of its side, Endicott completed the improbable comeback, taking the game and the match in a dominating 15-2 fashion.
Colby-Sawyer was led by Taylor Forsberg's (Moultonborough, NH/Moultonborough Academy) 27 digs and five aces. The TCCC Rookie of the Year Michelle Doody (Franklin, MA/Franklin) posted 20 kills while Genny Moore handed out 52 assists. Kristen Romanko had six blocks in the losing effort.
Steph Wiese led the Endicott offense with 22 kills, 14 digs and two aces. Hayley Janelle (Madbury, NH/Oyster River) was also a force upfront, notching 14 kills, six blocks and two aces. All-TCCC First Team selection Meghan Hall (Santa Cruz, CA/Aptos) dished out 51 assists and had 16 digs while Brittany Nolan had 25 digs for the Gulls.
With the win, Endicott improves its record to 26-10 and captures its second-straight conference title. The victory also gives the Gulls an automatic qualifier into next week's NCAA Division III Regional Tournament hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Gulls will begin play on Thursday, November 8th with their opponent and game time to be announced.