Sophomore defensive specialist Skylar Raskevitz makes a diving play to keep the ball alive (Photo Courtesy: Colby Smith)
FRANKLIN, MA - The Dean College women’s volleyball team came storming back to take their Tuesday night match versus the Curry Colonels 3-2 after dropping the first two sets (26-28, 22-25, 25-14, 25-16, and 15-7). After a disappointing Saturday tri-match for the Bulldogs that saw them fall to the University of Saint Joseph (CT) 3-2 and Emmanuel College, they had looked to get back to their winning ways in their first non-conference game in almost two weeks. Curry entered having lost five of their last six matches, 3-0.
Dean controlled the match in a variety of ways, finishing ahead in kills: 55-31, attempts: 159-137, hitting percentage: .201-.015, points: 73.0-47.0, assists: 54-27, and blocks. Curry finished with ten more errors, 33-23. The two sides finished with 9 aces apiece.
All season long Curry has relied on their experienced leadership in the statistical categories as they did once again Tuesday. It was senior captain Lauren Guzman who paced the Colonels. Guzman popped up 10 kills and 13 digs. Senior Leah Oscar-Phoenix also added a .412 hitting percentage with 7 kills and 4 blocks. Sophomore Abby Sousa’s performance with 24 assists and 2 block attempts, and transfer Emma Hobart’s 5 kills and 1 assist could not be overlooked either.
The Bulldogs saw a handful of players step up and answer the call in front of the home crowd on the way to victory. First-year Deanna Dice was the player of the game for Dean, playing to the tune of a .364 hitting percentage and a match best and career high 16 kills. Senior Sari Albury also again flexed her power at the net pounding home 15 kills on her .583 hitting percentage. First-year Chloe DeMaio also had her best match of the season with a career high 6 kills on just 9 attempts, on top of three blocks.
“My team was super encouraging this game, and this is probably the hardest we’ve ever worked as a group,” first-year Deanna Dice said post-game. “Thriving off the energy here from the home crowd was all we really needed to do to get the job done.”
The Bulldogs waste no time as they will travel up to Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts this Thursday (9/28) night for a 7pm match-up against Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Thursday’s match will be the second consecutive non-conference match-up for Dean.