Vikings Earn Split At UMass Dartmouth Tri-Meet

SALEM, MASS. – Salem State shutout Lesley, but lost in straight sets to the host Corsairs to finish 1-1 on the day at their tri-meet on Saturday afternoon at UMass Dartmouth. The Vikings won 25-16, 25-13 and 25-19, before stumbling 25-20, 25-15, and 25-23.  

Jasmine Severino (Lawrence, Mass.) had eight kills while hitting at a .500 % clip in the win over the Lynx. Emily Hennessy (Hanover, Mass.) and Darcy McDowell (Goshen, N.Y.) combined for 13 kills while Hennessy also had three aces and five digs and McDowell 10 digs. Mackenzie Salls (Turners Falls, Mass.) led the way with 20 assists.

Salem State raced out to a commanding 19-10 lead in the first set as kills by Severino and an ace by Hennessy in the stretch clinched the win. Leading 23-13 in set two, aces by Morgan Adams (Scotia, N.Y.) and a kill by Hennessey secured the final three points in the six-point win. Lesley committed 20 attack errors, including five in the final set and 10 service errors in the match to help the Vikings earn the win.  

A close first set was played against UMass Dartmouth, but the Corsairs managed to pull away late, as back-to-back kills by Samantha Sedano (Valley Glen, Calif.) and an attack error gave UMass Dartmouth the win. A 10-point win in set two by the Corsairs set the stage for a sweep. Salem State opened up with an early lead, but UMass Dartmouth rallied with five straight points to take an 11-7 lead. Four errors and aces by Danielle Joseph (Waltham, Mass.) and Salls helped the Vikings re-take the lead, 14-12.  Salem State clung to a one-point lead, 23-22, but UMass Dartmouth closed out the set, scoring the final three points to close out the victory.

Adams had seven assists and Salls six assists and six digs. Hennessey finished with eight digs while Darcy McDowell (Goshen, N.Y.) had three blocks. Salem State finished with just 18 kills compared to 35 for the Corsairs.