BIDDEFORD — Courtney Lambrese dialed up 17 kills, including nine in the third set, as the University of New England topped Eastern Nazarene College, 3-0, in Commonwealth Coast Conference women’s volleyball action Wednesday evening at the Harold Alfond Forum. Set scores were 25-13, 25-13, and 25-21.
The Nor’easters end their six-game skid with the result, improving to 4-9 overall (2-2 CCC) and posting a 12th consecutive win over the Lions (3-17, 0-4 CCC).
After Lambrese and her .387 hitting percentage on the night, Grayson Szczepaniak and Erika Sawicki both chipped in with eight winners for UNE. Maddi O’Connor added seven kills in just 10 attacks. Pacing the offense were Kristen Falcinelli and Erica Doubleday, who went for 20 and 12 assists, respectively. Nikki Mathewson and Brooke Gibbons recorded seven digs apiece.
Eastern Nazarene received seven kills and three aces out of Hannah Welsh, while Kayla Dean tallied nine assists. Oksana DiCamillo registered 14 digs and Dean picked up eight more.
Big Blue never trailed in the opening frame, and gradually built an 18-12 cushion before finishing on a 7-1 run to take the set. The second was tied four times in the initial 10 points, until UNE edged in front with three ENC errors. The Nor’easters closed with a 10-3 span to go up in the match by two.
In the third stanza, three unanswered kills from Lambrese helped the hosts establish a 23-15 lead. The Lions strung together six of the next seven to claw back a bit but couldn’t overcome the deficit.
UNE will entertain a tri-match on Saturday with the University of Southern Maine (11 a.m.) and Maine Maritime Academy (3 p.m.).
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