Union, N.J. (9/4/21) – The Kean University women's volleyball team split in Saturday tri-match action falling to UMass Boston 3-2 and sweeping Swarthmore College, 3-0.

UMass Boston 3, Kean 2 (25-18, 25-10, 22-25, 23-25, 12-15)

It was a see-saw battle early in the first set with Kean using Morgan Hall to turn a one point deficit into a three point lead.  Hall first provided a block to sideout and then served Kean to three straight points.  The Cougars (2-1) then closed out the set with a comfortable lead.

Kean led from start to finish in the second set with Hall again serving Kean through nine straight points while recording three aces in the run.

The Beacons (1-2) then turned things around in the third set taking an early lead before Kean battled back to then create a back-and-forth affair.  The Cougars pulled within one (23-22) but UMass Boston was able to use a block and kill to seal the set.

After a nip-and-tuck fourth set the Beacons found breathing room in the deciding fifth turning a six-all tie into an 11-6 lead.  Carsen Komminsk provided two aces in the run.

Aleks Qose had 16 kills and nine digs while Emilia Czapiewska and Marcelle Iscareno had 14 and 13 kills, respectively.

For the Cougars, Ashley Smith registered 13 kills while teammate Sedona Gaard tallied 15 digs, five aces and nine kills.

Kean 3, Swarthmore 0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-17)

Tied 14-all midway through the first set, Kean rolled off five straight points to create breathing room on their way to 25-19 set one win.  After cruising in the second set, the Cougars recorded a similar run in what would be the final set of the day this time breaking an 11-all tie and taking an 18-11 lead.  Kylie Brua had two aces in the deciding set.

Kayla Thornton turned in on for the final match of the day with a match-high 14 kills while hitting .591.

For the Garnet (1-2) Chloe Mayhue had a team-high 11 kills in the loss.

Kean returns to action on Tuesday when they host Monroe College.