PROVIDENCE, R.I. – UMBC
sophomore Hannah
Schmidt (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) notched her
team-leading tenth double-double of the year as the UMBC volleyball
team downed Providence in four sets (25-18, 25-27, 25-15, 25-15),
Friday evening at Alumni Hall.
Schmidt recorded a match-high 16 kills and also scooped up 11
digs to lead the Retrievers as they swept Providence for the third
straight season.
With the win, UMBC improves to 12-13 overall on the season and
5-3 in America East play while the Friars drop to 1-25 and 0-8 in
conference play.
Schmidt was not alone on the attack for the Black and Gold as
junior Emily
Vandegrift (Leesburg, Va,/Loudoun County) and
freshman Krystal
Mlemchukwu (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech) recorded 13 kills
and 11 kills, respectively. Meanwhile, junior Ali
Goc (Oshawa, Ontario/R.S McLaughlin) picked up a
match-best 19 digs. Junior setter Mallory
McIntyre (Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Mary's Academy) came within
one of her career-best, dishing out 50 assists.
Colleen McCollum registered a
double-double for the Friars with 12 kills and 14 digs
while Cassie Muzzonigro scooped up 18
digs.
The hosts took the initiative in the opening frame, winning the
first four points and opened a 10-6 cushion. The
Retrievers battled back right away and took the lead during a 5-0
run which included two kills by Vandegrift. From there
UMBC thwarted any potential runs and closed out the set 25-18 on an
attack error.
The second set saw Providence once again take the advantage,
only to see UMBC rally again and turn around the
set. But after the Retrievers took a 15-11 lead, the
Friars hung tough and held off a set point to tie the set at
24-24. UMBC once again forced a set point, but
Providence won three straight points to level the match with a
27-25 set win.
The third set began as a balanced contest until the visitors
used a 4-0 run to take a 14-8 lead. Once again the
Retrievers held off the Friars and never let them closer than
seven, cruising to a ten-point win, 25-15.
After a brief run by the Friars in the fourth, UMBC ran off six
consecutive points to take an 8-4 lead and never looked
back. Providence could only pull within nine, 23-14,
after three straight points, but three points later, Schmidt ended
the contest with her final kill, giving UMBC the win.
UMBC now continues its road swing on Sunday when the squad
visits New Hampshire. The Retrievers and Wildcats are
set to begin at 1 p.m. at Lundholm Gymnasium.
Dawg Bites
- With
the win, UMBC remains unbeaten against Providence in America East
play and now leads the all-time series 9-2.
- The
Friars last defeated the Retrievers in 1989.
