COLE MCNANNA // SEPT. 21, 2015//

Curry’s women’s volleyball team extended its home unbeaten streak, sweeping its tri-match with Salem State University and Elms College (Chicopee, Mass.) on Saturday, Sept. 19.

The Colonels improved to 4-0 at home, and their overall record is 4-5. Curry is a now a game within .500, despite having yet to win on the road.

In the opening match, the Colonels swept the Salem State Vikings, 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-20). In the second match, the Elms Blazers outlasted Salem, 3-2 (25-22, 18-25, 17-25, 28-26, 15-6.)

In the final match of the day, Curry beat Elms, 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-17).

Curry 3, Salem State 0

Freshman Grace Stafford led the Colonels with a team-high 10 kills.

Curry’s Nicole Rice was among the many players who helped the Colonels sweep their tri-tournament last week. // PHOTO COURTESY OF CURRY ATHLETICS.

Trailing just behind Stafford, with 6 kills, was junior Alyssa Keeney. Keeney also led the Colonels in assists (17) and service aces (3), and added three kills and four digs.

Junior captain Makayla Hughes was right behind Keeney with 9 assists, and had a service ace and 6 digs. Sophomore Courtney Carroll had a team-high 16 digs and chipped in with two service aces.

The Vikings were led by freshman Allison Vellucci, who led the game with 11 kills and 2 digs. 

Classmate Kaleena Kara was right behind with 7 kills, and senior Emily Peay followed with five kills and posted a game-best 21 digs.

Freshman Mackenzie Salls also posted a game high for Salem, putting up 21 assists.

Curry 3, Elms 0

In the third match, Stafford tied the game high with nine kills and 14 digs. Grambley and sophomore Nicole Rice both tallied eight kills for the Colonels.  

Grambley also tallied three service aces, which was a game high. Keeney and Hughes tied for the game high in assists with 16. Carroll led Curry with 15 digs in the backcourt.

Grambley totaled 18 kills between the two games, and Stafford had 15 while Rice followed with 12.

Keeney led the Colonels with 33 assists in the tri-match, and Hughes was right behind with 25. Carroll had 31 total digs, pacing the team ahead of Stafford’s 25.

After the game, Hughes said she was very happy with the team’s overall effort, including its continued undefeated streak at home.

The Colonels have yet to drop a set on their home court through four games this year.

Despite playing only one conference game in its first nine contests, Hughes said she is feeling very good going into the heart of the conference schedule.

“We really hung close with Roger Williams, who is supposed to be one of the best in our conference,” she said, “so we’re all feeling really good with the remainder of our schedule.”

Curry returns to action this Thursday, Sept. 24, as the team travels to Bridgewater State for a 6 p.m. contest.