Fredrickson, Alberghini Lead Volleyball at Norwich, 3-0

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Junior outside hitter Cailin Fredrickson (Columbia, Md.) smashed 13 kills and senior right side hitter Nicole Alberghini (Northborough, Mass.) spiked for eight to lead the Simmons College volleyball team to a 3-0 (27-25, 25-12, 25-19) victory over host Norwich University this evening in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match at Andrews Gymnasium in Northfield, Vt. The Sharks improve to 7-9 overall and 4-2 in league play, while the Cadets fall to 3-10 and 0-5.

Simmons trailed just once in the opening set (9-8) and owned the largest lead of the frame at 15-11, but most of the set was played within two points. Sophomore right side hitter Amber Peterson (Las Vegas, Nev.) provided the final two points of the set for the Sharks with a kill and an ace to give them the first set win at 27-25.

The second set began like the first with both teams tied at 5-5, but Simmons went on a blistering 12-1 run, fueled by four of Peterson's team-high six aces for the match. The Sharks stood with a 17-6 cushion and retained their lead the rest of the way with Fredrickson firing an ace to give Simmons the win at 25-12. The visitors posted a .381 hitting mark for the frame.

Norwich scored the first five points of the third set and later owned a 10-4 advantage. Simmons regrouped and put together a 7-1 burst, led by a pair of kills from junior middle hitter Abby Hart (Westfield, Mass.) and an ace from junior setter Andalyn Duke (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) to knot the score at 11-11. The Cadets later stayed within 16-15 and 21-18, but the Sharks tallied four of the final five points to win the set and the match.

Fredrickson racked up a match-high 16 points to lead Simmons on the night. She swung for 13 kills and served up three aces, while adding three digs and hit .235 for the night. Alberghini registered a .429 hitting mark, which was mirrored by Hart to fuel her seven kills. Junior libero Kat Guillotte (New Bedford, Mass.) picked up 10 digs, seven assists and three aces, while Duke set for 18 assists, scooped up eight digs and served for three aces.

Senior middle hitter Tara Lyons (Pocasset, Mass.) led Norwich with 11 kills on a .304 hitting percentage and added seven digs and two total blocks. First year Emily Oliver (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) scooped up 10 digs to bolster the defense, while sophomore setter Katie Crane (Avon, N.Y.) recorded 20 assists and two digs.

The Sharks will be in action again on Saturday, October 10 when they host GNAC rival Albertus Magnus College at Moore Gymnasium at 1:00 p.m., while the Cadets head to Lyndonville, Vt. on October 14 to take on Lyndon State College at 6:30 p.m.