NEW LONDON, N.H. – For the second year in a row the number four seeded Lyndon State Hornets faced the number one seeded Colby-Sawyer College Chargers during the North Atlantic Conference volleyball semifinals.  The Chargers swept the Hornets 3-0 to move on to the championship match for the fifth straight season.

Both teams battled back and forth early in the first set, creating long volleys.  The Hornets made the Chargers work hard for every point.  The Chargers took the lead after a 4-4 tie and stretched the final score of the set to 25-12.

The Hornets showed promise in the second set grabbing a 9-4 lead after a service ace from freshman Samantha Theriault (West Ossipee, N.H.).  However, the Chargers rallied back to take the set 25-15.

Fatigue set in for the Hornets during the third set as the Chargers earned a commanding 25-4 victory.

Senior Laura Drake (Hinsdale, Mass.) had five assists, five digs and two aces for the Hornets while also being named to the All-Tournament Team.  Senior Ashley Barski (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) registered a team best 11 digs and had three kills.  Abbey Greene (Exeter, R.I.) also added three kills.

Sophomore Alli Lahiff (Haverhill, Mass.) led all players with nine kills on an impressive .600 hitting for the Chargers.  Gabrielle Ratte (Kula, Hawaii) had eight kills, while Kelsey Sullivan, Kelsey McCulley (Southampton, N.Y.), and freshman Courtney Murray (Quincy, Mass.) had six kills apiece.  Sophomore Lexi Strong (Somersworth, N.H.) had a match best 12 digs, while senior Laura Smolinski (Hebron, Conn.) collected 27 assists.

Lyndon finishes their season 7-13 overall and 3-3 in the NAC.  Colby-Sawyer (11-24, 6-0 NAC) moves on the the championship match tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.