SPRINGFIELD, Mass., October 20, 2006 – Springfield College senior libero Leah Hettrick (Meriden, Conn.) totaled 58 digs in two matches this evening as the Pride, ranked fourth in the latest NCAA Division III New England Regional poll, defeated Bates College and then lost to Tufts University in the opening night of the Volleyball Hall of Fame Invitational.
With the 1-1 record on the night, SC finished second out of the four teams this evening and will travel to Smith College tomorrow morning, October 20th, for a 10:00 a.m. match at Scott Gymnasium.
In the Pride’s first match of the evening, senior outside hitter Nicole Curtin (Beacon, N.Y.) led all attackers with 14 kills as SC swept Bates College, 3-0, with game scores of 30-15, 30-27, and 30-16. Curtin recorded 14 kills on 33 swings with just four errors for a .303 hitting percentage to pace the Pride.
Seniors MaryKathryn O’Neil (Liverpool, N.Y.) and Jody Pfeifer (Northglenn, Colo.) compiled double-digit kill totals of 13 and 10, respectively, as tri-captain Hettrick had a match-best 22 digs.
Bates was led by freshman outside hitter Liz Leberman with a team-high nine kills to go along with 12 digs. First-year libero Kira Kramlich led the Bobcats in digs with 13 for the match.
The Pride then faced Tufts University in the second match of the evening after the Jumbos knocked off Bridgewater State College in their first match (3-0). SC won the first two games of the match, beating Tufts by scores of 30-24 and 30-26, but the Jumbos rallied to take the next three by margins of 30-20, 30-23, and 15-6.
O’Neil led the Pride against Tufts with 23 kills as Hettrick racked up a match-high 36 digs. The Jumbos were led by senior outside hitter Kelli Harrison with a match-high 27 kills, as sophomore setter Kaitlin O’Reilly had 45 assists in the victory.
Volleyball Hall of Fame Invitational – Pool C:
SC 3, Bates 0 (30-15, 30-27, 30-16)
Tufts 3, Bridgewater State 0 (30-18, 30-22, 30-19)
Tufts 3, SC 2 (24-30, 26-30, 30-20, 30-23, 15-6)
Bridgewater State 3, Bates 1 (24-30, 30-25, 30-13, 30-28)
Moira Long will enter her second season as head women's volleyball coach in the fall of 2012. Long wasted little time putting her stamp on the program, taking the Pride to the NCAA Championship Elite Eight in 2011.
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