North Dartmouth, Mass. – Visiting Clark University split a pair of matches on Saturday against UMass-Dartmouth and Keene State in non-league volleyball action at the Tripp Athletic Center.

The Cougars dropped their first match of the day to Keene State, 3-0, with game scores of 25-17, 25-16, 25-23, before taking the nightcap against the host Corsairs in five, 25-18, 23-25, 25-20, 25-21 and 15-9.

In the day's opening match against Little East Conference power Keene State, the Cougars got a team-high nine kills from Nicole Sullivan (Marshfield, Mass.) and six more from Amira Tranchell (Falmouth, Mass.) but the Owls proved to be too much.

They were paced by Bridget O'Bryant's 12 kills and 14 digs in improving to 15-10 overall. In addition to O'Bryant, Ellyse Davis proved to a force at the net, finishing with 13 kills on a sizzling .706 hitting percentage.

Clark rebounded in the day's second match with a rousing 3-2 win over the host Corsairs. Several Cougars had huge performances, including Tranchell, who finished with 14 kills and 15 digs.

Kortney Kelley (Barnstable, Mass.) racked up 26 digs – her sixth match this season with 20 or more. In addition to that combination, setter Rachel Spera (North Hollywood, Calif.) recorded her second match this season with 50 or more assists (51) to go along with 15 digs.

The Cougars, now 9-14 overall are in a fight to earn the sixth and final spot into the NEWMAC Tournament. They will travel to Smith on Tuesday, and then visit Western Connecticut before hosting Wellesley on Saturday afternoon.

A sweep of the Pioneers and Blue would assure them of the final berth, but anything less and they will need help from other teams to secure a bid.