Career Nights Abound in Lancers’ Win Over Amcats

PAXTON, Mass. – Senior outside hitter Natalie Gillis (Ashland, Mass.) set a new career high with 25 kills as the Worcester State University women's volleyball team defeated Anna Maria 3-1 in non-conference action on Thursday evening.

Gillis, who had equaled her previous best with 19 kills in Worcester's win over MCLA on Tuesday, becomes just the fourth Lancer to record 25 or more kills in a match. She hit .340 in the match, her second-best hitting percentage of the season, and recorded her eighth straight double-double with 21 digs.

Freshman Angela Colonis (Waterford, Conn.) and senior libero Denise Hoxha (Worcester, Mass.) also had special nights.

Colonis recorded 11 kills for a new career high, and added 26 assists for her first double-double with kills as one of the stat categories.

With 29 digs in the win, Hoxha blew away her previous personal best for digs in a single-game. That previous mark of 19 was set just four games ago against Bridgewater State and then equaled the next time out at Salve Regina.

The Amcats (5-14) actually took the opening set 25-22, but Worcester State dominated in the second set, wining 25-10 to even the match at a game apiece. From there, they took the next two games by scores of 25-22 and 25-21.

Both teams served effectively, with Anna Maria serving 13 aces, including a game-high five from Ashley Sheehan, who had six kills for the Amcats. Colonis had a pair of aces for Worcester State, who was led by four aces from Brooke Lamothe (Tewksbury, Mass.) and three from Meaghan Marcoux (North Smithfield, R.I.). Lamothe and Marcoux were both in double-figures in digs as well.

Freshman Klea Xhemollari (Worcester, Mass.) added eight kills for the Lancers, while Gabby Alberghini (Northborough, Mass.) had seven kills. Senior Sarah Ward (Townsend, Mass.) had 27 assists in splitting setting duties with Colonis.

The Lancers (7-12) have now won two in a row and three of their last four. They return to MASCAC action on Saturday when they play at Mass. Maritime at 5:00 PM.