Endicott Claims 3-1 Win Over Salve Regina Behind Double-Doubles From McIntyre and Sheehan

Newport, R.I.- Behind a strong offensive performance that saw the Gulls average over 14 kills per set, the Endicott women's volleyball team defeated Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) foe Salve Regina 3-1 to improve to 19-9 (5-2 CCC) on the season. With the setback, Salve Regina falls to 11-15 (5-3 CCC).

After winning the first two sets 25-14 and 25-19, the Seahawks stormed back to take the third, 25-22, to force at least one extra set. Trailing 17-10 in the fourth, Endicott was able to go on a 10 point serving run to claim a 20-17 lead that they would never relinquish, eventually winning 25-21 to claim the 3-1 win.

Endicott was led by the two starting outsides in Tori McIntyre (San Diego, Calif.) and Lauren Sheehan (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) as both recorded double-doubles on the night. McIntyre finished with 12 kills and 13 digs while Sheehan finished with a team-high 14 kills and 14 digs. For McIntyre, it was her ninth double-double performance of the season and for Sheehan, it was her third, all of which have come in the last three matches.

Pacing the offense were setters Mareena Clotfelter (Poulsbo, Wash.) and Alleigh VandeMerkt (Riverside, Ill.) as each student-athlete recorded 21 assists in the win. VandeMerkt also added an ace and six digs while Clofelter contributed seven digs.

Defensively, Cydney Pierce (Santa Barbara, Calif.) claimed a team-high 26 digs to lead Endicott as eight Gulls picked up six or more digs in the win.

BEYOND THE BOX

• Freshman Emma Mancini (Lynnfield, Mass.) hit at a match-high .353 clip as she recorded seven kills on 17 swings with just one error, while also chipping in six digs. The seven kills set a new career best, overtaking a six kill performance in the team's 3-0 over Curry on September 29.
• With the win, Endicott improves to 16-4 all-time against Salve Regina, and 7-1 all-time against the Seahawks when playing in Newport, R.I. The two teams are now 2-2 against each other in their last four meetings.
• Hayley Knapp (Valencia, Calif.) and Lexi Watts (San Diego, Calif.) each tallied nine kills and two assists in the win with Knapp also recording an ace and one solo block while Watts pitched in five digs to the defensive efforts.

FOR THE FOES

• Kat Mendes (New Bedford, Mass.) led the Seahawks' offense as she recorded a team-high 13 kills on 51 swings. The junior outside also notched seven digs and two blocks in the win.
• Libero Chrissy Fraga (Milford, Mass.) picked up a match-high 36 digs in the loss, setting a new career-high. Fraga's previous career-best effort came just over two weeks ago when she posted 33 in the team's 3-1 loss to WPI.
• Setter Erin Proctor () dished out 21 assists to tie with Endicott's Clotfelter and VandeMerkt for the match-high as she also picked up seven digs. Fellow setter Samantha Salwa (Ellington, Conn.) finished second on the team with 10 assists while also grabbing six digs.

WHAT'S NEXT

For Endicott, the Gulls return home for their final regular season matches of the year when they play host to Eastern Nazarene and St. Joseph's (Conn.) on Saturday. The match against Eastern Nazarene will conclude CCC play for the Gulls as well as the team looks to improve to 6-2 in CCC play and cross the 20-win plateau. Salve Regina takes to the road to face off against Emmanuel on Thursday in Boston, Mass.