KELSEY LACE RECORDS 1,000TH CAREER KILL AS RIC GOES 2-1 AT LIVE FREE OR DIE INVITATIONAL

Nashua, N.H.--Junior middle blocker Sierra Smith (Longmont, CO) registered a .447 hitting percentage to go along with 19 kills and senior outside hitter Kelsey Lace (Glendale, RI) registered her 1,000th-collegiate kill as the Rhode Island College women’s volleyball team went 2-1 at the Live Free or Die Invitational co-hosted by Daniel Webster and Rivier on Friday and Saturday.

The Anchorwomen (13-7) topped Bridgewater State on Friday night 3-1 (18-25, 25-13, 25-23, 27-25), before splitting with the co-hosts on Saturday, falling to Rivier, 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-15), in the opening match of the day and rebounding with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-18) shutout victory over Daniel Webster in the afternoon.

RIC was led by Lace in the match against Bridgewater State, as she tallied a match-high 12 kills to go along with 10 digs. Sophomore setter Abigayl White (Coventry, RI) paced the Anchorwomen with 36 assists and junior Libero Megan Armburg (Swansea, MA) registered a team-best 12 digs. Smith hit .375 (7-1-16) for the match, while freshman middle blocker Emily Langlais (West Warwick, RI) notched eight kills of her own.

Senior outside hitter

In the loss to Rivier, Lace led the way in kills with eight, while senior outside hitter Michelle Malboeuf (Cumberland, RI) posted five kills and six digs for the Anchorwomen. White had 14 assists with Armburg and freshman Jillian Ward (Coventry, RI) each posting nine digs.

The final match of the tourney against Daniel Webster saw Lace record her 1,000th career kill. A transfer from Div. II St. Rose where she registered 722 kills, Lace recorded a team-best 12 kills in the match. Smith was also a standout performer, recording an astounding .769 hitting percentage (10-0-13) for the match. Malboeuf and Ward led the way with nine digs apiece with White once again pacing the squad with 25 assists.

Junior middle blocker Sierra Smith

On the weekend, Lace recorded 32 kills, 24 digs, three service aces and two blocks. Malboeuf was second on the squad with 20 kills to go along with a team-best nine aces. Smith (19), Ward (14) and Langlais (12) also recorded double-figure kills on the weekend. Armburg led the squad with 26 digs, while White led the team with 75 assists.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume Little East Conference action at home against UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday, Oct. 13 (6 p.m.).