Five Seniors Honored Prior to Non-Conference Match with Regis

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University women's volleyball team honored five graduating seniors on Tuesday night before a non-conference match against Regis College. 

Natalie Gillis (Ashland, Mass.), Denise Hoxha (Worcester, Mass.), Brooke Lamothe (Tewksbury, Mass.), Leelle Tyler (Longmeadow, Mass.), and Sarah Ward (Townsend, Mass.) were recognized as their Lancer careers draw to a close. 

After the ceremony, the Pride defeated the Lancers, 3-0, on the John P. Brissette court. 

Gillis had a team-high ten kills and a double-double with 10 digs, but Regis, behind 11 kills from Kate Montigny (Shrewsbury, Mass.), started fast, hitting .400 in the opening set on their way to a 25-13 victory. They closed the first set with seven consecutive points, including multiple aces by Kamdyn Tenorio (Irvine, Calif.), who had three in the game to go along with 12 digs and eight kills. 

Worcester led 7-1 to open the second set but Regis fought back to eventually tie the game at 11, and then finally took a lead at 15-14 with a Montigny kill. With the match tied at 17, Tenorio collected a kill to help the Pride sideout, and then served as Rita Dow (Nashua, N.H.) and Ahnasia McKinney (Chelmsford, Mass.) extended the lead for Regis, eventually ending in a 25-22 win. 

The Lancers again led in the third set, using a Tyler kill to take an 11-9 lead, but Regis won the next five points and nine of the next ten to grab an 18-12 advantage. Two service aces by Camryn Burgio (Quincy, Mass) during a 5-0 run helped the Lancers cut the deficit to just one, 23-22, but Regis put the match away with a kill by Montigny and a block by Dow. 

Mckinney and Dow each had eight kills for the Pride, while Mckinney and Emily Fagundo (Dover, N.H.) talled 18 assists apiece. Mica van der Meulen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led all players with 17 digs. 

The Lancers saw Burgio record nine digs and two kills, while Angela Colonis (Waterord, Conn.) had nine assists, eight digs and five kills. Ward had a team-high 13 assists. 

Worcester State (9-14) concludes their run of three-game non-conference games on Thursday when they play at Rhode Island College before finishing their MASCAC regular season Saturday at Framingham State. 

The Pride (19-7) will look to reach the 20-win plateau Thursday afternoon when they host Maine Fort Kent for their own Senior Day.