Worcester, Mass. – Marina Ramos (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) led a balanced offensive attack and host Clark University opened its 2015 campaign in strong fashion with a convincing 3-0 win over regional power Eastern Connecticut State in non-league volleyball action on Tuesday evening at the Kneller Athletic Center.

Ramos slammed down a match-high 11 kills to go along with seven digs as the Cougars won their season-opening match for the first time since 2010.

The Cougars trailed for most of the first set until a personal four point run by first-year Ana Mercado (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) turned a two-point deficit into a two-point lead at 20-18. After getting a kill to make the score 18-17, she served up three straight aces, sending the Scarlet and White ahead.

ECSU fought back and went ahead 23-20 but Clark registered the final five points, including kills from Courtney Pharr (Seattle, Wash.), Ramos and Shannon Glass-Smythe (Albuquerque, N.M.) to take the set.

The Cougars never trailed in the second set as they raced to a 25-21 victory behind eight assists in the frame from freshman Rachel Webb (Celina, Texas).

Clark took control of the third set from the outset, sprinting out to a 6-0 lead, building their lead to as many as 11 points at 22-11 following a Webb service ace before settling for the 25-15 victory.

In addition to Ramos' big night, the Scarlet and White got nine kills and seven digs from Glass-Smythe and seven kills from Pharr.

Webb, meanwhile, impressed in her first collegiate action, racking up a match-high 31 assists to go along with four service aces and five digs.

Adrianna Mihalek led all Warriors with six kills, while Hannah Bryant chipped in with five of her own and Fabiana Della-Monica finished with 11 assists.

Both teams are back in action this weekend with tournament play. ECSU takes part in the Coast Guard Invitational on Friday and Saturday, while the Cougars will hit the court on Saturday at the annual Worcester City Tournament.