Worcester, Mass. – After losing to Eastern Connecticut in 26 of their first 31 all-time meetings, Clark University has now defeated the Warriors in consecutive season for the first time since 1977-78 following its thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind win on Tuesday evening in non-league volleyball action at the Kneller Gymnasium.

With the win, the Cougars see its record even at 1-1 in advance of Saturday's Worcester City Tournament, while ECSU has now dropped three straight matches after defeating Coast Guard to open the season.

Clark used a monster performance from sophomore Shannon Glass-Smythe (Albuquerque, N.M.) to rally from a 2-1 deficit.

The Cougars came out on fire, winning the first set 25-18, but Eastern Connecticut responded, taking advantage of some poor hitting by Clark in the second set (-.143) to even the match after a 25-16 win.

In the third set, Clark got five kills alone from Glass-Smythe, but four kills from Kay Mullen (Fairhaven, Mass.) and two more from Ashley Adams (Mystic, Conn.) to help the Warriors take the third game as well, 25-22.

The Scarlet and White raced out to an early lead in the fourth frame and cruised to a 25-20 win to force a game five.

Clark jumped out early and led by as many as four points at 13-9, highlighted by a powerful kill from Savonnah Rowe (New York, N.Y.) that brought the crowd to its feet, but saw its lead dwindle down and ECSU eventually tied the game at 13-13.

In the end, however, Clark was able to close out the contest, taking the game 16-14 and the match, 3-2.

The aforementioned Glass-Smythe finished with 12 kills and 16 digs, while freshman Savannah Sanford (San Anselmo, Calif.) chipped in with eight kills and 16 digs.

Rachel Spera (North Hollywood, Calif.) added 30 assist and nine digs and freshman Mia Cattaneo (Santa Barbara, Calif.) collected 26 digs of her own.

ECSU was paced by Mullen's 11 kills and Adams' ten to go along with 24 assists and five service aces from Jess Patrizi (Beacon Falls, Conn.).