The UMB women’s volleyball team delighted their 60 home fans with a 3-0 victory (30-25, 31-29, 30-28) over Suffolk University on Thursday, September 23. In teams highly anticipated opening home game, one of four home-games on this seasons schedule, the Beacons showed their gusto, defeating the Rams in a glorious battle to break the teams four-game losing streak. Despite their losing record, the Lady Beacons are working hard, advancing their record to 2-5.

Both teams opened the contest by playing evenly, with a score of 14-14 halfway through the first set. UMB got serious and broke away from the deadlock on a 9-3 run. However, Suffolk came back with vengeance, taking the Beacons for five successive points, making the score 23-22. The Rams’ could not hold on, making mistakes allowing the Beacons to take the first set. Suffolk’s faulty spikes and serves, and an underhanded ace by sophomore setter Juliane Farias, are attributing factors to the Rams loss in the first set with a score of 30-25.

Dominating the Rams’ with a two set lead, UMB, was looking pretty with a 20-12 lead in the third set. Keeping the momentum, a true ace, freshman Erin Towne’s spiked four aces helping the team to victory. Alongside her, fellow freshman Denise M. Hill’s couple of sharp kills aided to the win. Setting an example, 6’3″ junior Agata Matel’s block and kill secured the upset, with the Beacon’s scoring 14 consecutive times making the score 23-16. The Beacons’ score fest irritated the visitor’s head coach enough to throw her clipboard to the floor. It was as if the Beacons were courteously escorting the Suffolk ladies to the #1 shuttle bus stop. However, the Rams declined the offer with an 11-3 run, taking 2-point lead 28-26.

The Rams surprise comeback alighted the audience’s cheers. With their fans behind them, the Beacons scored four of the last five points to win the final set 30-28, helped by two aces by substitute junior Nathanial Figueroa and a game-ending kill by junior Stephanie Adams.

Sharpshooter Hill commented about the team’s atmosphere in the second set, “Once we got through the first set, we knew we could win the game. We got down [by seven points] and we got back up [to win the set]. We’re fighters.” She led the Beacons with 18 points, 15 kills and three aces in her first game at the Clark Athletic Center. Towne followed impressively with outstanding offense and defense, hitting 11 defensive digs, scoring 13 points with nine spikes and hitting four aces in the 95-minute match.

The Beacons’ third-year head coach Ken Goon commented about his squad’s second victory of the season, “We’re very successful today. I thought the hitters played pretty well. [Hill] was a dominating force on the front. Without [Towne]’s service in the second set, we would never have won. And [Matel] dominated the game with her height.”

Hill in part attributed her superb performance to the loyal fans, “I was a little bit nervous because I haven’t played a home game. But I knew we had our fans and support here. I was so excited and pumped up.”

Due to an unbalanced schedule, the lady Beacons play twenty away games this season, but will be back to the Harbor to host LEC rival Plymouth State University at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29, before playing in the Salem State College Tournament on October 1 and 2.