AMHERST, MA – The Amherst College volleyball team came one step closer to the best start in program history this evening, earning its 15th consecutive win to improve to 18-1 on the year. The Lord Jeffs swept Eastern Connecticut State University 3-0 this evening to complete the regular season home schedule undefeated at LeFrak Gymnasium (9-0) for the first time since 2000.

The Jeffs are only one win away from matching the 2006 squad that began the season with a 19-1 record. 

The Warriors hung with the Lord Jeffs until the midpoint of all three sets, but Amherst pulled away for the victory with scores of 25-13, 25-20, and 25-20. The result dropped ECSU to 11-12 on the year.

In the opening set, ECSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead, before Amherst rallied back to take an 8-5 advantage on a Cristy Meier (San Anselmo, CA) kill. Through the first 13 points of the night, Meier had four kills and no errors on just four total attempts. Amherst forced ECSU into timeouts trailing 14-11 and 19-13 in the first frame, with emphatic points coming at those junctures on a Jackie Berkley (Fullerton, CA) ace and a block by Meier and Laura Hyman (Glencoe, IL). 

After the second stoppage, the Lord Jeffs cruised to the 25-13 opening set win, riding five kills apiece from Meier and Hyman. The pair's 10 kills in the first set came on just 15 total attempts, with no errors.

ECSU played with Amherst deep into the second set, holding a lead at 14-13 and tying the game at 17-17. The Jeffs took control of the scoreboard late though, striding out to a 21-18 advantage, before closing out the second frame 25-20. Meier and Katherine Kanoff (Pacific Palisades, CA) each registered five kills in the second set to pace the Amherst offense. 

In the third and final set, Eastern held a lead as late as 15-12 to force Amherst into a timeout. The Jeffs did not turn the table on the Warriors until Kanoff's serve came up in the rotation. Amherst regained the lead at 16-15 on the junior's fifth and final service ace of the night. Rookie Devin Pence (Los Angeles, CA) added an ace to put Amherst up 21-18, before closing out the win 25-20. 

ECSU was led by seven kills apiece from Julie Forler and Erynn Miller. Samantha Slonski added six kills on 12 total attempts, with one error. Slonski added 14 assists, while Miller and Taylor Abelli paced the Warrior back line with 13 and 12 digs, respectively.

Meier and Kanoff led the Amherst attack with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Sophomore Callie Neilson (Escondido, CA) dished out another 37 assists to pass the 700-mark for the season. Reigning NESCAC Player of the Week Rachel Yorke (Los Angeles, CA) had 25 digs in the win. 

The Lord Jeffs will compete in the 2010 Hall of Fame Classic this weekend, with an opening match scheduled against Wellesley for Friday night at Smith College. The match is set to begin at 5 p.m.