#1 Women’s Volleyball Downs #3 Endicott to Win CNE Championship

BOSTON, Mass. – The #1 Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a 3-1 win over #3 Endicott during Saturday's Conference of New England Championship. Emma Sanders was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, hitting .353 with 14 kills in the championship match.

Saturday's victory is Wentworth's second conference title in the last three seasons and third conference title overall. All three of the Leopards' titles have been won at home. The NCAA selection show will take place on Monday, October 17, at 1:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Ava Rocchio got the Leopards offense started with a kill on the first rally of the game. Elena Davenport and Riley Schoonmaker tallied early kills as Wentworth held a 5-3 in the opening stages of the first set. Endicott responded with a 6-1 run behind kills from Ava Grace Dresback and Angelina Fitzharris to take a 10-7 lead. The Leopards answered with a run of their own, taking eight of the next 11 points, highlighted by kills from Sanders and Rocchio, to jump back in front 15-13. The sides exchanged the lead late with the game even at 21. Sanders and Davenport combined for three finishes to secure the 25-21 win and give Wentworth a 1-0 lead.
• Hadley Helenbrook had two kills in the opening eight rallies of set two, with the game level at 4-4 early on. Helenbrook's finish tied the game again before a 5-0 run by Wentworth put the hosts ahead, 12-7. Davenport, Rocchio, and Sanders tallied strong kills as the offense found a rhythm. Endicott battled back and cut the lead to two points, once again thanks to a Helenbrook finish. The Gulls hung around late in the set, but Wentworth's lead stayed at five until kills from Stephanie Moreau and Helenbrook made it a 23-21 game. Kate McLane tallied the final two kills to win a close second set, 25-23, and give Wentworth the 2-0 advantage.
• The two sides went back and forth once again in set three with the game tied 8-8 in the opening stages. The Leopards took a 15-12 lead thanks to back-to-back attack errors before Endicott opened an 8-0 run with four players tallying kills to take a 20-15 lead. The Gulls would go on to take five of the final eight points and win set three 25-18, now trailing 2-1 in the match.
• The visitors jumped out to a 3-1 lead in set four, looking to even things up and extend the game. Wentworth evened the score and then took the lead with back-to-back finishes from Davenport. Endicott tied the game again at 10-10 with Kelsey Sanborn's kill before the Leopards scored eight of the next ten points, opening up an 18-12 lead. With their season on the line, the Gulls rallied and went on a 7-2 run with Helenbrook and Dresback leading the charge to make it a 20-19 game. McLane and Sanders came up with big kills late to give the Leopards set point. McLane's strong finish ended the set 25-21 and gave Wentworth the 3-1 victory in the conference final.

• The Leopards got production up and down the lineup in Saturday's victory. Davenport finished with 12 kills and hit .300, while Rocchio tallied 9 kills to go with four blocks. McLane's 14 kills tied Sanders for the team lead. McLane also added 6 digs to her final stat line. Olivia Vaughn recorded a team-high 44 assists, and Amanda Zweifler tallied three aces and nine digs.

THE SERIES:

• Tonight was the 31st all-time meeting between the two teams and the third straight matchup in the conference championship.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth will find out their first round opponent in the NCAA Tournament on Monday.

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