Salem, MA --- The WPI women's volleyball team utilized all 16 dressed student-athletes in both matches as the Engineers defeated Curry and Salem State by 3-0 counts Saturday at Twohig Gymnasium.

The Engineers took the first match 25-16, 28-26, 25-19 and the second 25-17, 25-13, 25-15 to improve to 14-3. Salem State ended the day with a 3-14 ledger and Curry winds up 6-8.

WPI 3, Curry 0

WPI was paced by freshman Colleen Mullins (Andover, MA) and senior Maddy Werth (Bedford, MA) with seven kills to go with 16 assists by sophomore Azita Bakhtyari (Andover, MA) and a dozen digs by junior Kelly Rathje (Scituate, MA).

Curry sophomore Grace Stafford (West Yarmouth, MA) led Curry with 11 kills and nine digs. Senior Alyssa Keeney (Coventry, CT) accounted for 16 of the Colonels 22 assists to go with nine digs. Junior Courtney Carroll (Fairhaven, MA) registered a match-best 14 digs.

\Leading by a set, WPI held off a late rally by Curry to win the second set 28-26. In set three, the Engineers jumped out to an 11-5 lead behind a kill by Werth.  Curry drew to within a point at 15-14 after a kill by Stafford. Up by two, WPI took advantage of back-to-back errors by the Colonels to build a 21-18 lead. Two kills by freshman Abbie Gilbert (Hopkinton, MA) then secured the 25-19 victory. 

WPI 3, Salem State 0 

Sophomore Casey Hunt (Granby, CT) led WPI with eight kills and Bakhtyari registered a match-best 14 assists. Sophomore Victoria Nassar (Salem, NH) and Rathje each chipped in with 11 digs each.

Freshman Morgan Adams (Scotia, NY) and sophomore Mackenzie Salls (Turner Falls, MA) combined for 17 assists and junior Hannah Mullarkey (Salem, MA) came up with 21 digs for the Vikings.

WPI earned a convincing win 25-17 in the opening set behind the strong play by Hunt who registered four kills in the first set. Bakhtyari had five service aces as the Engineers raced out to a 19-9 lead. WPI completed the sweep with a convincing win in set three. WPI raced out to a 14-6 lead after building a 6-1 lead to start the game, scoring five straight points behind the Gilbert's serve. 

Salem State and WPI are back in action again on Tuesday Oct. 4 when the Vikings travel to Salve Regina and the Engineers host Babson. The Colonels go to Endicott to take on the Gulls on Oct. 5.

Portions Release Courtesy Salem State Sports Information