UMBC

Junior Katie Kelly

PHILADELPHIA—The UMBC volleyball team swept a pair of matches on the opening day of the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia West / Penn Invitational, defeating Rhode Island, 3-1, and William and Mary, 3-0, Friday at The Palestra.

In the first match of the day, the Retrievers (10-4) limited Rhode Island (5-5) to a .045 hitting percentage on their way to a 25-19, 25-17, 15-25, 25-18 win.

“On a day when we didn’t particularly hit very well, we defended and blocked extremely well,” head coach Ian Blanchard said. “It was a another grind-it-out game and I was pleased that we were able to bounce back after dropping the third set.”

Juniors Katie Kelly (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar) and Ali Loynachan (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada/Sinclair) had nine and eight blocks, respectively, as the Retrievers out blocked the Friars, 16.5-9.

Sophomore Hallie Carter (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 12 kills and a UMBC season-high 26 digs. Senior Allie Spaay (Kenosha, Wis./Kenosha Tremper) also tallied a double-double with 29 assists and 12 digs.

In UMBC’s second match of the day, the Retrievers’ defense was again on display, holding William and Mary (4-5) to a .021 hitting percentage in a 28-26, 25-14, 25-16 triumph.

Freshman Dalton Tolliver (Ortonville, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) hit .316 with 16 kills, while Spaay earned her second double-double of the day with 26 assists and 16 digs.

“We moved some people around the lineup and it was good to see them step up when given the opportunity to play,” Blanchard said.

Four Retrievers recorded double-digit digs, including Carter, Loynachan and Spaay, but sophomore Ali Goc (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada/R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate) topped the team with 18.

The Retrievers return to action Saturday when they face the host Quakers at 1 p.m. in the final day of the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia West / Penn Invitational.