WORCESTER --
Zeala VanDamme (San Diego, CA) posted a .667 hitting percentage as the WPI Volleyball team swept Worcester State, 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-16), on Tuesday evening at John P. Brissette '88 Court. VanDamme went without an error on 12 attacks as the Engineers picked up their first set of consecutive wins in 2026 and moved back to .500 at 4-4.
VanDamme recorded a team-high eight kills and added three blocks, while
Olivia Hutchinson (Erie, PA) and
Bridget Spees (Saint Johns, FL) each contributed six kills.
Amelia Lynch (Charlottesville, VA) directed the offense with 22 assists and added eight digs, while
Jennah DiMartino (Mission Viejo, CA), Lynch and Spees each finished with eight digs.
Julia Colantuoni (Milford, MA) added three kills and three blocks, while
Anastasia Kelnik (Fair Lawn, NJ),
Abigail Malone (Franklin, MA) and
Christina Femino (North Attleboro, MA) each recorded two service aces.
WPI finished the night hitting .299 as a team while holding the Lancers to -.028.
Worcester State was led by
Beatrice Gamboa-Estrella (Simi Valley, CA), who finished with eight kills and seven digs.
Jess Allard (Ashby, MA) added five kills and four digs, while
Kaitlyn Anthony (Gastonia, NC) contributed four kills.
Ella Duffy (Methuen, MA) registered four aces and nine digs, while
Michelle Iannacito (Bronx, NY) handed out 11 assists.
Emily Rakic (Paxton, MA) added seven assists and two digs for the Lancers, who fall to 0-8.
WPI set the tone from the onset, scoring the first two points of the opening set before Worcester State answered to make it 2-1. The Engineers quickly regained control, with Kelnik delivering a service ace and Spees adding a kill during a stretch that pushed the lead to 4-2. After the Lancers briefly pulled even, WPI reeled off five straight points to take a 7-5 advantage. The Engineers continued to apply pressure, extending the margin to 15-7 before VanDamme and Hutchinson helped fuel another surge. WPI closed the set on a 10-3 run, capped by consecutive kills from VanDamme, to cruise to a 25-10 victory.
The Engineers carried the momentum into the second set, building an early 3-1 lead behind another Kelnik ace. Worcester State answered with a 4-0 run to take a 5-3 advantage, but WPI quickly erased the deficit. A kill from Spees and a pair of Worcester State errors helped the Engineers move in front, and WPI eventually turned a 7-6 deficit into a 17-7 lead with 10 consecutive points. Malone supplied back-to-back aces during the run, while VanDamme added a kill and Colantuoni contributed a block. Worcester State trimmed the margin late, but WPI finished off the set, 25-15, to take a 2-0 lead.
The guests maintained control throughout the third set, opening a 4-2 advantage before Worcester State pulled within one. The Engineers responded with kills from VanDamme and Spees and continued to build their lead. WPI moved ahead 12-6 before the Lancers answered with three straight points, but the Engineers again regained the momentum. VanDamme and Hutchinson continued to produce offensively, while WPI's defense limited Worcester State's opportunities. The Lancers reached 16 points, but WPI scored the final three points of the match, including a kill from Colantuoni, to complete the 25-16 set victory and the 3-0 sweep.
The Crimson and Gray head north to Keene, NH on Saturday for a tri-match with the host Owls and Western New England. The first serve is slated for noon. Worcester State heads to Roger Williams on Saturday to face the Hawks and Coast Guard, with action starting at 1pm.
