University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Fairfield
UMass Volleyball Defeats Fairfield In Five Game Dog-Fight
September 25, 2001 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 25, 2001
Fairfield, Conn.- The University of Massachusetts volleyball team defeated Fairfield in dramatic fashion this evening, 3-2, at Alumni Hall. The non-conference win improves UMass' record to 7-3 overall while they remain 1-1 in the Atlantic 10. Fairfield drops to 5-5 overall.
Game one saw the Stags take an early three-point lead at the 6-3 mark before the Minutewomen took their first lead of the game at 9-8. UMass stayed in control the remainder of the game, receiving their offensive push from sophomore Nitia Small (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Lymarie Llovet (Arecibo, Puerto Rico) terminating four kills apiece to take the game 30-28.
Game two started much like the first with the Minutewomen and Stags exchanging point for point. UMass took a five-point lead at the 10-5 mark on back-to-back kills by seniors Janeen DeMarte (El Paso, Texas) and Celia Wiste (Chino Valley, Ariz.). DeMarte recorded six of her team-high 16 kills kills in the game for a .500 hitting percentage en route to a UMass 30-25 win. DeMarte and Small led the defensive effort digging four balls apiece.
Game three saw the Minutewomen take the early 8-2 lead and just when it looked as though UMass was cruising for a 3-game victory, the Stags rallied to tied the score at 13-13, 15-15 and again at 18-18 before gaining a six point lead at 26-20. UMass battled with Llovet recording four of her 15 kills and adding three services aces but it was not enough to over take the Stags and the Minutewomen dropped the match 25-30.
As game four unfolded, the score was again tight as neither team led by more than three points. At the 16-17 mark, Fairfield went on a 10-0 scoring frenzy to pull ahead of the Minutewomen 16-26. UMass pulled within six at 22-28 but could not stop the Stags as they took game four with the 30-22 advantage.
Game five opened with a tight scoring margin as the score was tied at 4-4, 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8. UMass went up 12-8 with two kills by senior Lauren Vander Veen (Oakland, Calif.), one by Llovet and a service ace by freshman Amy Chan (Lancaster, Pa.). The Stags pulled to within one at 12-11 and 13-12 but the Minutewomen shut Fairfield down with back-to-back blocks by Vander Veen and Llovet and Vander Veen and Small to take the 15-12 victory.
The Minutewomen finished the match with four players contributing kills in the double-digits. DeMarte led the team with 16 while Vander Veen added 15, Small 13 and Llovet 12. Defensively DeMarte led the way with 18 digs while junior Jitka Stehnova (Odolena Voda, Czech Republic) dug 12 balls and Small 10. Vander Veen recorded 7 blocks in the win and Stehnova collected 54 assists.
Fairfield was led in kills by Conny Paul (27), Joanne Saunders (20) and Carola Stowe (14). Laurie Brands recorded 20 digs and Stowe added 13. Kelly Sorenson collected 45 assists.
"I thought it was a great volleyball match," said head coach Bonnie Kenny. " I thought the teams were pretty evenly matched and that our poise in the fifth game made the difference in the match.Our middle attackers (Vander Veen, Clare Baxter (Miami, Fla.)and Wiste) were very effective in their attack and Jitka did a good job with her set distribution. Our serving was also good with eight aces. It was a hard fought win for our first five-game match of the year."
UMass returns to A-10 action this weekend as they host Xavier on Friday, Sept. 28 and Dayton on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m. at Curry Hicks Cage.
