By Tiffany Williams –
WPI volleyball pulled off a dramatic comeback on Tuesday night, storming back from two sets down to stun UMass Dartmouth in a reverse sweep at the Tripp Athletic Center (24-26, 25-27, 25-20, 25-18, 15-10).
The Engineers (6-2) leaned on first-year Olivia Hutchinson, who hammered 17 kills, while classmate Bridget Spees stuffed the stat sheet with 14 kills, 20 digs, and three aces. Anastasia Kelnik added 11 kills and three blocks, and junior Zeala VanDamme chipped in five blocks. In the dual-setting system, Preslie Jerebker handed out 28 assists and Lauren Boycourt supplied 23, while NEWMAC Defensive Athlete of the Week Alana Harris anchored the back line with 17 digs.
The Corsairs (5-4), two-time defending LEC champions, looked poised for a sweep behind junior Allison Pate’s 19 kills and sophomore Olivia Seutter’s 17. Setter Skye Peters tallied 34 assists, and libero Emily Pogorelec posted a match-high 28 digs.
UMass Dartmouth eked out the first two frames in extra points, but WPI refused to fold. Kelnik’s surge in the third set kept the Engineers alive, and Hutchinson and Spees powered a dominant fourth to force a decisive fifth. Deadlocked at 10-10, Harris and Spees kept rallies alive before Kelnik delivered three clutch kills and Hutchinson sealed it with the match-winner.
WPI returns home Wednesday night to face Tufts at 6 p.m. before heading to Western New England for a Saturday tri-match. UMass Dartmouth stays home to take on Bowdoin Friday at 7 p.m.