Wildcats Take Nighthawks in Volleyball Senior Day Action

Vallee and Connors honored during Senior Day Festivities

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.-  Senior middle hitter Lauren Vallee (Bristol, Conn.) topped all players with a sizzling .600 attack percentage tallying 17 kills, eight digs and four assists leading her team to a 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-19) victory over the Nighthawks of Newbury College today during senior day in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) volleyball action with the victory the Wildcats earn a spot in the 2017 NECC championship tournament. Fellow senior honoree Ashlee Connors (Springfield, Mass.) finished with 7 kills, six digs and two service aces.

Along with Connors, junior middle hitter Taylor Heinbokel (Agawam, Mass.) also had seven kills along with three digs and two aces. Two Wildcats tallied five kills including freshman outside hitter Samantha Leduc (Athol, Mass.) and junior setter Lexi Cears (Agawam, Mass.). Cears also finished with 26 assists and three digs. Leduc had six digs.

Leading the way for the Nighthawks was freshman middle hitter Stephanie Rheaume (Hampton, New Hampshire) with 12 kills and two aces; hitting .400 for the day.  Senior Libero Julia Leggett (Longview, Wash.) notched the game high 10 digs. Freshman outside hitter Maria Vanegas (East Boston, Mass.) finished with three kills and five digs.

The Wildcats are now 9-13 overall and 2-5 in the NECC, the Nighthawks fall to 2-23 on the season and 0-7 in conference play.

Vallee, a two sport athlete,  in her four years has played in 274 sets, 79 matches, has 839 kills, 60 assists, 143 aces, 692 digs, 54 block solos, 36 block assists, 1054.0 points. Connors, two-year player, has tallied 127 sets, 37 matches, 194 kills, 32 assists, 72 service aces, 257 digs, six blocks and 270.5 points.