UMass Lowell Volleyball Sweeps Setters in Costello Gym, 3-0

River Hawks stun Pace University; sweep Setters in pivotal NE-10 match

LOWELL, MA (Oct. 30, 2010) – UMass Lowell volleyball earned an efficient three-set sweep of Pace University on Saturday afternoon in the Costello Gym. The River Hawks were extremely accurate, scoring a .330 team attack percentage.

The crucial late season victory boosts UMass Lowell’s record to 13-10 overall and 8-5 in the Northeast-10. Pace’s second consecutive loss drops its record to 17-8 on the season and 9-4 in conference action.

UMass Lowell came out firing in the first set as Jillian Hadder (Yucaipa, Calif.) led a balanced 25-19 win. Hadder tallied four kills, while four other River Hawks had two kills each. Hadder and libero Carolyn Eddy (Dracut, Mass.) had six digs each in the opening frame.

The Setters drew closer in the second frame, but couldn’t overcome the UMass Lowell offense. In the 25-22 victory, Lea Freeman (Methuen, Mass.) and Sarah Coscia (Pittsfield, Mass.) tallied four kills a piece while Eddy dug seven more balls.

The River Hawks put the match to bed in the third with a powerful 25-18 win in which the team had a .400 attack percentage. Setter Kristina Wiltjer (San Diego, Calif.) served the team to a 6-0 start to set the pace. Coscia scored five kills while Freeman added four.

For the match, Coscia and Freeman finished with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Hadder tallied six kills and eight digs in a well-round effort.

Wiltjer distributed the ball efficiently, amassing 26 assists, three blocks and three service aces. She was aided by Eddy who dug a total of 18 balls.

With just three matches left in the 2010 regular season, UMass Lowell will hit the road for a non-conference clash with Post University on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

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