Leicester, Mass. - After dropping the first set of title match, the Clark University volleyball team rallied to win the last three sets over WPI and take home the Worcester City Volleyball Tournament crown on Saturday afternoon at Leicester Gymnasium.

The Cougars prevailed 3-1 (18-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-20) to improve to 3-0 on the year. The Engineers dropped their first match of the year, falling to 2-1.

Recording her second double-double of the day was Clark outside hitter Marina Ramos (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) as she posted tournament-highs of 19 kills and 26 digs.

Teammate Shannon Glass-Smythe (Albuquerque, N.M.) also had a double-double with 16 kills and 13 digs. Setter Rachel Webb (Celina, Texas) recorded 46 assists while libero Mia Cattaneo (Santa Barbara, Calif.) added 23 digs.

Producing a double-double for the Engineers was freshman outside hitter Casey Hunt with 10 kills and 14 digs. Junior libero Cassandra Tomerlin notched 20 digs and a match-high seven aces.

WPI's Azita Bakhtyari broke open an 18-15 first set with four-straight service points to seal the win in the opening stanza. In the second set, the Engineers pulled to within one, 22-21, but committed two errors in the final two points to even the match at one set a piece.

The Cougars had an early 10-5 lead in the third frame, but WPI chipped away to pull within one, 16-15. After a WPI error, Glass-Smythe served three-straight points to put the set away. In the fourth and deciding set, Clark used a 7-0 run that included three Glass-Smythe kills to take the lead and never look back. WPI got within three, 20-17, but couldn't close as the Cougars sealed the championship.

In their first match of the day, the Scarlet and White punched its ticket to the finals Tournament by taking down Worcester State University, 3-1. The Cougars dropped the third set before prevailing 25-12, 25-18, 21-25, 25-16.

Clark got a great all-around performance from Ramos as she produced a double-double with 13 kills and 15 digs. Tournament MVP Ana Mercado (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) led all players with match-highs of 17 kills and six aces. Webb led the way with 41 assists while Cattaneo produced 25 digs.

Defense was the key as Clark held Worcester State to a .025 hitting percentage thanks to 89 digs.

A five-point service run by Webb put away the first set for the Cougars. Clark held a slim 18-15 lead in the second set, but closed on a 7-3 run to win the set. After WSU fought back to win the third set, Clark put the fourth set and the match away with an early 11-3 run.

The Cougars return to action on Tuesday when they visit Rhode Island College at 7:00 p.m.

Worcester City Volleyball All-Tournament Team
Jaminka Townsend, Worcester State
Samantha Cauette, Becker
Brook Klepper, WPI
Cassandra Tomerlin, WPI
Marina Ramos, Clark
Rachel Webb, Clark
MVP: Ana Mercado, Clark