Volleyball Downs Becker 3-0 at Dig Pink Rally

PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College volleyball team downed the visiting Hawks of Becker College, 3-0, in front of a large and spirited crowd at Fuller Activities Center on Thursday evening in non-conference action.

With the win, the AMCATS even their record to 9-9, while the loss drops the Hawks to 4-15.

Tonight's game was the annual Dig Pink Rally. The AMCATS raised funds for the Side-Out Foundation's fight against breast cancer by selling pink t-shirts and collecting donations.

Game scores were 25-20, 25-9, and 25-23. The AMCATS were led by offensively by junior Jessica Goulet (Lawrence, Mass.) with nine kills and freshman Rebecca Foti (Bedford, N.H.) with six service aces. Junior setter Samantha Parker (Athol, Mass.) dished out 22 assists.

Defensively, senior Jacqueline Clinton (Walpole, Mass.) paced the AMCATS with a game-high 21 digs. Foti chipped in with 13, while junior Brittany Jackson (Larchmont, N.Y.) added 10.

Becker was led offensively by Samantha Caouette (Montague, Mass.) with seven kills. Both Charlene Landry (Gorham, Maine) and Chase Peterson (Redding, Conn.) finished with 10 digs.

The AMCATS took the lead in game one at 2-1 and did not look back, as they quickly opened up a 12-7 margin. The Hawks responded with four-straight points, but a pair of service aces by Foti changed the momentum, allowing the AMCATS to open the gap again and take the 25-20 win.

Anna Maria made quick work of Becker in the second set and ended the with two strong runs. Strong service by Foti gave the AMCATS an eight-point run, and after allowing the Hawks a ninth point at 21-9, Anna Maria added another four-point run on three-straight serves by Demi Carrero (Mamaroneck, N.Y.).  

In the third game, the AMCATS held a commanding 24-14 lead, but the Hawks responded with a nine-point run to nearly even the score at 24-23. Kirsti Hadzewycz (Daytona Beach, Fla.) was dominate in the stretch, as the AMCATS struggled to read her serve. A bad set by attempt by the Hawks concluded the game, and Anna Maria took the 3-0 match win.

The AMCATS posted a .191 hitting percentage on the evening, including a game-best .536 hitting percentage in game two. The Hawks also finished with a positive hitting percentage at .020.

Anna Maria will be back in action on Saturday when it hosts Suffolk University and Eastern Nazarene College in tri-match action. Match times are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. Becker will also be in action on Saturday and will host Elms and Wentworth for a tri-match. The Hawks will play at 11:00am and 3:00 p.m.