BRIDGEPORT, CT (Sept. 8, 2007) – Sophomore MH Elsa LeGrand (Highlands Ranch, CO) compiled 34 kills as UMass Lowell suffered a 3-2 loss at the University of Bridgeport but regrouped to turn back Merrimack, 3-2, Saturday afternoon in a non-conference tri-match at the Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium.

With the split, UML stands at 2-4 overall while Bridgeport is currently 7-4 and Merrimack slipped to 1-6. Merrimack defeated Bridgeport, 3-1, in the final match of the day.

UML, in the beginning of a 12-match road swing, visits American International Tuesday night at 7:00.

The two matches marked the fourth and fifth consecutive times UML played to a tiebreaker this season. The River Hawks are 1-4 when extended to five games..

UML had a two-game lead on Bridgeport, 30-23 and 32-30, before dropping three straight 26-30, 26-30 and 10-15.

LeGrand compiled 17 kills, 10 digs, seven blocks and six assists while senior MH Erin Hudd (Melrose, MA) added 11 kills and five blocks. Freshman Sarah Coscia (Methuen, MA) also had 11 kills while sophomore MH Allie Eide (Gresham, OR) led the defense with 19 digs. Junior L Kendra Ciccone (Quincy, MA) served five aces.

Sophomore S Nichole Rondeau (Dracut, MA) dished out 26 assists while sophomore Jessica Provan (San Clemente, CA) added 14.

Sophomore OH Ivana Kovacevic-Jurasin (Belgrade, Serbia) led Bridgeport with 20 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore OH Olga Sidorova (Ekaterinberg, Russia) and junior OH Brittney Owens (Payson, AZ) each added 14 kills.

LeGrand also led UML in the win over Merrimack, which halted a four-match losing skid. LeGrand compiled 17 kills and three blocks while freshman OH Jillian Hadder (Yucaipa, CA) added 13 and Ciccone 12 kills and 19 digs.

Eide led the defense again with 21 digs while Provan and Rondeau dealt 32 and 22 assists, respectively.

Freshman OH Molly Cindric (Westlake Village, CA) led the Warriors with 20 kills while sophomore OH Lisa Barr (Alberta, Canada) added 12. 

Bridgeport 3, UMass Lowell 2