

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., October 25, 2005 – Springfield College senior opposite Ashley Reves (Orchard Park, N.Y.) and junior middle blocker MaryKathryn O’Neil (Liverpool, N.Y.) each tallied eight kills, but Wellesley College spoiled the Pride’s Senior Night, downing SC 3-0 (30-23, 30-20, 30-28) on Tuesday evening (Oct. 25) in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action.
The Blue (22-9, 5-3 NEWMAC) were led by junior Laura Ackerman with 13 kills, as the middle blocker committed just two attacking errors, good for a .423 hitting percentage in the match. Freshman outside hitter Jessica Duff added double-digit kills (10) to go along with five digs for Wellesley, and the reigning NEWMAC Player of the Week, Murielle Dawdy, recorded a team-high 15 digs.
SC (24-7, 6-2 NEWMAC) senior setter Alesia Vaccari (Winsted, Conn.) added 27 assists to her career total, which is now at 5,084, just four shy of the all-time school record (5,088, Jen Svatik). Junior libero Leah Hettrick (Meriden, Conn.) had a solid night for the Pride, collecting 22 digs.
SC falls to 24-7 overall on the 2005 season and 6-2 in conference play. The Pride will conclude its regular season at Babson on Saturday afternoon, October 29, in a 1:00 p.m. match before heading into the NEWMAC Tournament.
Joel Dearing will enter his 20th season as head women's volleyball coach at his alma mater in the fall of 2008. Dearing is regarded nationally as one of the sport’s best coaches and he has the resume to prove it. Dearing ranks in the top-10 in Division III history with a 638-293 (.685) overall mark in 27 seasons as a women’s volleyball coach.
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