Women’s Volleyball Clinches First-Place Finish with Dramatic 3-2 Win at Southern Vermont

BENNINGTON, Vt.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's volleyball team concluded the regular season with a thrilling 3-2 victory at Southern Vermont Saturday evening to lock up the No. 1 seed in the NECC Tournament.

The Lions improve to 18-6 on the year while finishing tied for first in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) with an 8-1 league mark to share the regular-season title with Elms. The Mountaineers slide to 18-6 overall and 7-2 in conference competition with the result.

Ruth Aguilar (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) notched her fourth triple-double of the season as she recorded 28 assists, 20 kills, and 14 digs. Courtney McCarthy (Merrimack, N.H.) tallied 19 kills and 16 digs. Halle Julian (Whitman, Mass.) chipped in with nine kills and three blocks while Samantha Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.) dished out 21 assists. Rebecca Ashman (Havre de Grace, Md.) collected 14 digs and Jenna Meacham (Millington, Mich.) added 13.

The visitors posted a 25-15 win in the opening set to claim a 1-0 lead.

Eastern Nazarene extended its advantage to 2-0 with a 25-19 decision in the second game.

Southern Vermont trimmed the margin to 2-1 after prevailing 25-20 in the third.

The Mountaineers captured the fourth frame 25-20 and leveled that match at 2-2.

After the home team raced out to a 6-0 lead in the fifth set, the Lions clawed back to tie the score at 10-10. Eastern Nazarene seized the fifth game 15-12 after outscoring Southern Vermont 5-2 down the stretch.

Liv Sowles registered 18 kills and Taryn Higareda posted 15 kills on the night for the hosts.

By virtue of the No. 1 seed, Eastern Nazarene will have home-court advantage throughout the NECC Tournament. The Lions will host a quarterfinal match Tuesday, October 30 at the Lahue Physical Education Center.