Worcester Polytechnic Institute

North Dartmouth, MA --- Sophomore Olivia Hutchinson (Erie, PA) powered the WPI Volleyball team to a 3-1 (17-25, 25-23, 25-11, 25-17) comeback victory over UMass Dartmouth on Friday evening at Tripp Gym. Hutchinson registered a team-high 15 kills and added four total blocks as the Engineers won three straight sets after dropping the opener to improve to 2-3 on the season. The Corsairs slip to 3-2.
 
Hutchinson was joined offensively by Bridget Spees (Saint Johns, FL), who tallied 13 kills, 12 digs and two service aces. Anastasia Kelnik (Fair Lawn, NJ) contributed eight kills, four aces and a block, while Zeala VanDamme (San Diego, CA) anchored the WPI front row with a team-high five blocks. Amelia Lynch (Charlottesville, VA) directed the offense with 36 assists and added four blocks, while Jennah DiMartino (Mission Viejo, CA) paced the defense with 21 digs. Freshman Niki Szavuly (Woodinville, WA) added three aces as WPI finished with 50 kills, 13 aces and nine blocks.
 
UMass Dartmouth was paced by freshman Norah Schweitzer (Westford, MA), who posted a collegiate-best 11 kills along with nine digs and a block assist. Senior Allison Pate (Sebring, FL) added 10 kills, 16 digs and two aces, while junior Olivia Seutter (Mesa, AZ) finished with nine kills. Freshman Brooke Harrington (Walpole, MA) anchored the Corsairs' defense with 20 digs and three aces, while senior Skye Peters (Albuquerque, NM) handed out 34 assists and added four kills and four digs. Senior Maddie Carter (Beverly, MA) also contributed to the UMass Dartmouth attack.
 
UMass Dartmouth established control early in the opening set, using a 9-1 run to turn a 12-11 deficit into a 20-12 advantage. Seutter supplied a pair of kills during the surge, while Pate added a kill and an ace. WPI answered with three straight points to trim the deficit to 22-16, but the Corsairs held on to take the opening set, 25-17.
 
The Engineers found their footing in the second set, although UMass Dartmouth maintained the advantage for much of the frame. The Corsairs held a 21-18 lead before Kelnik sparked a WPI push with a kill. A UMass Dartmouth error brought the Engineers within one, and after the Corsairs briefly restored a three-point cushion, WPI answered with five consecutive points to seize the lead. The Engineers capitalized on several Corsair miscues down the stretch to finish off the 25-23 victory and even the match at one set apiece.
 
WPI carried that momentum into the third set. After UMass Dartmouth held an 11-8 advantage, the Engineers ripped off eight straight points to surge in front 19-8. WPI's offense
continued to pressure the Corsairs as Hutchinson and Spees helped maintain the separation. UMass Dartmouth attempted to respond with kills from Schweitzer and Carter, but the Engineers continued to control the set. Szavuly and Kelnik provided kills late as WPI cruised to a 25-11 victory and moved ahead 2-1.
 
The Engineers again took command in the fourth, building a 16-9 advantage behind another strong offensive start. UMass Dartmouth refused to go quietly, using a 5-1 run that included two Seutter kills to pull within 17-14. WPI, however, shut the door down the stretch, allowing just two points over the final nine rallies. The Engineers closed out the set, 25-17, to complete the three-set comeback and earn their second victory of the season.
 
WPI returns to action on Saturday, hosting a tri-match inside Harrington Auditorium. The Engineers face No. 14 Wesleyan at 11am before taking on Plymouth State at 3pm.