09/29/2007
Volleyball Posts an 0-2 Mark at Tri-Match

WORCESTER, MASS. 09/29/07 - The Clark University women’s volleyball team posted an 0-2 record at a tri-match held at Kneller Athletic Center on Parent and Family Weekend this Saturday. The Cougars fell to Keene State (30-16, 30-11, 30-27) and later dropped three games to Westfield State, 30-28, 30-19, 30-21.

Clark drops to 4-10 overall.

In the opener, KSC went up 9-1 on a pair of slams by senior Kelly Yankowski (Turners Falls, Mass.). Clark brought the game within five (4-9) on two straight blocks by Sarah Hunsucker (Orinda, Cali.), but Keene State went on an 8-1 run for a 17-5 advantage and rolled to a 30-16 victory.

Keene State opened game two on a 12-0 burst and cruised to a 30-11 win.

In game three, Clark took its first lead of the day (9-3). The Owls charged back to bring the game within two (7-9). Following a back and forth battle between the two teams, KSC was able to pull away for a 30-27 win.

Hunsucker paced Clark with nine kills and 10 digs. Visone and Emily Corbett (Rose Valley, Pa.) chipped in with 13 and 12 digs, respectively.

In the second game of the day, Clark chipped away at an early six point (13-7) Westfield advantage. A 4-1 Clark run, highlighted by Brittany Meadows (Los Angeles, Cali.) service ace (11-14) and a dig by Visone that set-up a Hunsucker spike brought the Cougars within three (14-17). Clark got within one twice (16-17 & 18-19), but were never able to take the lead, falling 28-30.

In game two, Westfield held its largest lead of the match (16-6) on a point from Elissa Genereux (Belchertown, Mass.) and Clark never recovered. WSC went on to win game two, 30-19 and game three, 30-21.

Visone and Hunsucker had five kills apiece to lead Clark. Visone also chipped in with 17 digs, while Corbett had 15 and Kylie Kutney (Commerce, Mich.) finished with 12.

Alyssa Thibodeau (Belchertown, Mass.) led Westfield with 10 kills and three blocks (one solo; two assisted). Stephanie Bartkus (North Merrick, N.Y.) finished with nine kills, while Krista Grifoni (Peabody, Mass.) added 24 digs and Genereux contributed with 40 assists and 10 digs.

In other matches, Keene State defeated Westfield State, 30-15, 30-19, 30-13. For the Owls of Westfield, Morgan Hosking (North Reading, Mass.) had seven kills and Bartkus and Grifoni registered 19 and 17 digs, respectively.

Clark returns to conference play when it hosts Wellesley College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.