Kate Salembier '24 (Frank Poulin)
Kate Salembier '24 (Frank Poulin)

Blue Volleyball Falls to UMass Dartmouth in Non-Conference Play, 3-0

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Kate Wade (San Clemente, Calif.) had eight kills and 12 digs to lead visiting UMass Dartmouth to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-9, 25-23) sweep of Wellesley College volleyball in non-conference play on Saturday morning at Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse.

Junior Gabriella Monico (Milford, N.H.) chipped in with six kills and classmate Devon Laing (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) added five kills in the three-set sweep for the Corsairs (7-4 overall). Junior Kate Salembier (Sierra Madre, Calif.) tied for match-high honors with eight kills in the setback for Wellesley (4-7 overall).

Wellesley first year libero Kaija Kunze-Hoeg (Eagan, Minn.) had 12 digs to lead all players. Kunze-Hoeg has now recorded 10 or more digs in each of her last ten matches. First year Kennedy Mayo (Long Branch, N.J.) added six kills for the Blue.

The Corsairs fell behind 7-1 at the start of the first set but rebounded to take a 25-19 victory. UMass Dartmouth charged back to take a 17-16 lead following three straight attacking errors from the Blue. The visitors seized the opportunity and never let go of the lead, closing out the win on a kill from Marley Alexander (Ashburn, Va.).

UMass Dartmouth followed up the first set victory by taking a 13-2 lead in the second set. The visitors never trailed en route to a commanding 25-9 victory and a 2-0 lead in the match.

In the third set, Wellesley made a late push to extend the match, tying the score at 21-all on a kill by Salembier. However, UMass Dartmouth scored four of the final points in the match to secure the set, 25-22, and the win, 3-0.

Wellesley will host Emerson in NEWMAC action on Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM. UMass Dartmouth will play at Babson later today before returning home to host Rhode Island College on Wednesday at 6:00 PM.