Washkalavitch Records Career-High 18 Kills as Owls Split Tri-Match

WESTFIELD, Mass. – On a day where Westfield State women's volleyball played ten total sets, a career-high 18-kill effort from senior Emily Washkalavitch (Oxford, Pa.) helped propel the Owls past Rhode Island College in the third game of a tri-match from Providence, R.I. on Saturday afternoon.

After leading two sets to none, the Owls were forced to hold off a furious run from Rhode Island College to prevail with a five-set win (25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 23-25, 15-12). Earlier in the day, the Owls suffered a five-set defeat against Emmanuel (25-21, 20-25, 22-25, 25-21, 6-15).

GAME TWO VS. RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE

Washkalavitch dominated the match for Westfield, including in the decisive fifth set where she delivered three kills as part of a five-point run which gave the Owls a 7-2 lead. Morgan Dority (Walpole, Mass.) and Hanna Nihill (Chandler, Ariz.) were also key contributors in the final set with Dority registering two kills, a block, and eight assists. The final assist was to Nihill who spiked home the game-winning kill to hold of an Anchorwomen charge that began in the third set.

Westfield took command of the match early after taking both the first and second sets of the match. Several Owls contributed to the set one win, including a late four-point burst which turned an 18-17 Owls lead into a 22-17 lead. After a RIC service error, Lauren Carnes (Westfield, Mass.) registered a kill, then on the next point, Shaneidy Hernandez (Springfield, Mass.) leaped up for a block at the net. Erica Majka (Agawam, Mass.) capped the run with an ace. Later in the set, a kill from Nihill closed the set. 

With set two tied at 11, the Owls went on an extended run on the service game of Carnes, scoring seven consecutive points to establish an 18-11 lead. The Anchorwomen would trim the deficit to three later in the set, but four straight Owls points closed the set, including a pair of points off strong net play with a solo block from Dority followed by a point from Carnes and Hernandez.

Rhode Island College would not go away however, storming back in the match after taking the middle set and the fourth frame. Both set wins came on narrow two-point differentials, but Sarina Marines was able to record two critical kills in each to wrap up sets three and four to force the pivotal fifth and final set.

Washkalavitch was one of two Owls in double figure kills as Nihill added ten kills. Dority and Carnes each had seven kills. Dority piled up a staggering 40 assists, upping her career-high total which she set at Springfield College last weekend versus Keene State and earlier today against Emmanuel. Washkalavitch led Westfield with 17 digs as well, also a career-high mark.

GAME ONE VS. EMMANUEL

In game one, both teams topped the 20-point mark in each of the first four sets. Westfield took set one by finishing the frame by scoring five of the final six points, punctuated by a Nihill kill. The Owls held a 15-10 lead in set two, but Emmanuel would collect nine of the next ten points to take control of the set.

Westfield fought valiantly to dig out of an early seven-point hole in set three after the Saints opened with ten of the first 13 points. Back-to-back aces from Carnes brought the Owls into a tie at 14 before Emmanuel nudged their way to a four-point lead late. Trailing by two, a block error sent the Saint to a set win and a two sets to one lead.

The Owls would go on to force a fifth set thanks to two late kills from Washkalavitch, but in the final set, Westfield failed to find their footing early on which resulted in a 6-1 deficit. The Owls would get as close as three points for the rest of the set.

Washkalavitch finished with 16 kills and 11 digs while Nihill added 13 kills. Dority notched 36 assists and seven block assists. Mary Heneghan (Round Rock, Texas) compiled nine block assists.

Westfield State (1-5) will visit Johnson & Wales for their match on Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.