Box Score Newport, R.I. – Mia Cattaneo (Santa Barbara, Calif.) recorded a career-high 38 digs – including the 1,000th of her career and visiting Clark University overcame a sluggish start to knock off Salve Regina, 3-1 in non-league volleyball action on Thursday evening. Game scores were 18-25, 25-12, 25-18 and finally 25-18.
The win for the Cougars sends their overall record to 14-4 as they begin an incredibly difficult slate of matches beginning early next week. For the Seahawks, meanwhile they slip to 7-12 a year removed from winning the ECAC New England Championships and finishing with a 23-10 record.
Salve Regina came out strong, surprising the Scarlet and White by taking the first set 25-18 behind 15 kills and a .268 hitting percentage.
Clark woke up in the second set, sprinting out to a huge advantage on their way to a decisive 25-12 win. Cattaneo, who ranks fourth in the New England Women's And Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in digs per set, reached the 1,000-dig plateau in the set – becoming the tenth student-athlete in program history to reach the milestone and the first since Kortney Kelly in 2011.
The Cougars continued their offensive assault in the third set as they recorded 11 kills on their way to a 25-18 win.
That was the identical score in the fourth and deciding set where the Scarlet and White hammered down 16 kills and hit .222.
Rachel Webb (Celina, Texas), who leads the conference in assists per set, was spectacular again, handing out 39 helpers.
Ana Mercado (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) led a balanced offensive effort for Clark, totaling a match-best 14 kills, while Shannon Glass-Smythe (Albuquerque, N.M.) added a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs.
In addition, Courtney Pharr (Seattle, Wash.) had an excellent all-around match, totaling six kills, four service aces and three digs.
Clark returns to action next week for a busy stretch when they visit Wellesley College on Tuesday and Framingham State on Thursday before returning home on October 20 for a meeting with Wheaton.
