Volleyball Victorious in Marathon Match at Northeastern

Tuesday, September 1

Boston, Mass.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

2-2

Northeastern University

0-5

New Hampshire

Northeastern

Photo by: Greg Greene

9/1/2015 10:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOSTON -- Behind two players with double-doubles, the University of New Hampshire volleyball team climbed back from a 2-0 deficit to stun Northeastern University in a marathon five-set decision Tuesday evening at the Cabot Center.

The set scores were 18-25, 16-25, 25-14, 25-20 and 16-14.

With the non-conference win, the Wildcats up their record to 2-2 on the season. The Huskies slip to 0-5. UNH claims its first win over Northeastern since Sept. 22, 2009.

Senior outside hitter Tori Forrest (Powder Springs, Ga.) turned in her second double-double performance of the season with 11 kills and 12 digs. Junior setter Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Fla. notched her first collegiate double-double, recording 23 assists and 14 digs. Senior middle blocker Cassidy Croci (Sylvania, Ohio) landed seven kills on 15 swings for a match-high .467 hitting percentage. Freshman middle blocker Gabri Olhava (Mount Prospect, Ill.) set new career-highs in blocks (five) and kills (five). Senior defensive specialist Madison Lightfoot (Clarkston, Mich.) patrolled the court with a team-high 18 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Courtney Bowman (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) contributed six kills and 13 digs.

Outside hitters Brigitte Burcescu and Cherylain Dizon paced the Northeastern attack with kill tallies of 16 and 15, respectively. Junior setter Jamie Bredahl piloted the NU offense with 43 assists. Freshman libero Gabrielle Eyl and Bridal anchored the defensive effort with 19 digs apiece.

In the fifth and deciding set, UNH's defense clamped down and held the NU to a .040 hitting percentage. It proved crucial as the frame featured nine ties and five lead changes. Northeastern roared out to an 7-3 lead, but was swiftly erased as New Hampshire notched seven of the next eight exchanges to lead 10-8. NU clawed back and the two teams traded blows as the score rose to the 13 mark. The Wildcats punctuated the comeback with a kill from Croci followed by a Olhave solo block to seal the deal.

To help it reach the fifth set, UNH stymied the NU offense in the fourth stanza, forcing 13 hitting errors by the host squad. The two squads traded the first 10 points to begin the frame, but Northeastern seized the next six points to carve out a 11-6 advantage. The 'Cats methodically chipped away at the lead as senior outside hitter Maggie Kenney (Merrimack, N.H.), Croci and Forrest supplied the points for the Wildcats to even the match at 16-16. New Hampshire kept its momentum going despite a Northeastern timeout as Olhava slammed two kills to propel the visiting squad to a 21-18 lead late in the set. The 'Cats were able to maximize on the Huskies offensive miscues, forcing a fifth-set.

UNH was able to turn the tables in game three to set the table for a comeback, engineering a 7-1 surge out of the chute. NU called time to shake up the momentum, but the senior duo of Croci and Forrest landed back-to-back kills to up the lead, 9-1. Northeastern flexed, whittling the New Hampshire lead down to 16-9. The Wildcats then countered with a 4-1 run to lead 20-10 late in the frame and bridged the eventual 25-14 set win to extend the match.

The Huskies bolted out to a 13-8 lead to begin the match. Following a UNH timeout, the 'Cats were able to string together three consecutive points highlighted by a combo block from junior middle blocker Demi Muses (Orangevale, Calif.) and senior outside hitter Abby Brinkman (Brecksville, Ohio). However, NU was able to halt the UNH scoring flurry and lead 20-15 late in the stanza. After a second UNH timeout, the blue and white cut the host's lead down to 21-18, punctuated by a service ace from Lightfoot. Despite the 3-1 scoring spurt by the Wildcats, the Huskies capped off the set with four straight points to take game one.

Severtson ripped a service ace to start the second set for the Wildcats. However, NU retaliated with eight unanswered points to force UNH to burn a timeout and take an 8-1 advantage early. Both squads went back-and-forth, trading points until a 5-0 Northeastern run lifted the home squad to a 20-10 lead. The Wildcats did not fade away quietly in the set as a kill by Forrest sparked a four-point sequence. However, the Huskies were able to close out the set to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.

UNH remains on the road, competing at the Fairfield University Invitational. The four-team tournament features Marshall University (Sept. 4, 4 p.m.), the College of the Holy Cross (Sept. 5; 10 a.m.) and the host Stags (Sept. 5; 8 p.m.). UNH debuts at Lundholm Gymnasium on Tuesday, Sept. 8 against Bryant University to start a four-match homestand.

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