NEW LONDON, Conn. - Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Woodward (Deerfield, Mass.) posted a monster match with 16 kills and a career-high 25 digs for her second career double-double to lead the Simmons College women's volleyball team to a 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-20, 15-12) victory over Newbury College this morning in the 2015 CGA Bear Invitational hosted by United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. The Sharks improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Nighthawks fall to 1-2.
Simmons hit .200 or better as a team in three of the five sets and had to come back from a 2-1 deficit with wins in the last two frames to take the match.
Woodward led all players with 22 points for the match, including a career-high six aces for the Sharks. Junior outside hitter Cailin Fredrickson (Columbia, Md.) spiked for a career-best 18 kills and added 10 digs for her second double-double in as many matches. She also got up for a block assist. Junior setter Andalyn Duke (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) got them the ball and finished the contest with a career-best 58 assists to go with 16 digs for her second straight double-double and a pair of aces. Junior middle hitter Abby Hart (Westfield, Mass.) was extremely accurate on the attack with a .407 hitting percentage to bolster 13 kills in addition to a lifetime high of six aces. She also added five digs and a pair of blocks. Senior right side hitter Nicole Alberghini (Northborough, Mass.) put away 12 kills on a .276 hitting mark and added six digs, while junior libero Kat Guillotte (New Bedford, Mass.) bested her career-high with 21 digs.
Junior middle hitter Courtney Banks (Corona, Calif.) led the Newbury offense with 15 kills and matched her attack with 15 digs on the other side of the net. Sophomore setter Marlen Reynoso (Springdale, Ark.) registered 32 assists and 18 digs, while sophomore defensive specialist Julia Leggett (Longview, Wash.) came up with 25 digs.
Simmons returns to play host Coast Guard at 11:00 a.m., while the Nighthawks take on Eastern Connecticut State University at 1:00 p.m.