The team notched a Division I record six wins in Resa Provanzano’s third season at the helm of the program, starting the season with a 5-3 overall record. The River Hawks earned non-conference victories against Manhattan, Bryant, Holy Cross, Quinnipiac, Fairleigh Dickinson. UMass Lowell defeated Hartford in America East play on the road in late October.
Rookie outside hitter Madi Bell (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) led the team with 247 kills in her first season in Lowell. She averaged 2.35 kills per set, which ranked second on the team and fifth among America East rookies. Bell notched 10+ kills 12 times in her freshman year, which included a career-high 17 kills on Oct. 22nd at Hartford
Senior middle blocker Lauren Bennett (Wilmington, Mass.) finished her final season in Lowell with a career-high 109 total blocks (16s,93a). She became the ninth player in program history to post a 100-block season. Bennett ranked second in the conference with 1.09 blocks per set. She tallied 5+ blocks in 13 matches in 2016
Sophomore libero Lindsey Visvardis (Homer Glen, Ill.) totaled her second straight 400-dig season for the River Hawks posting 426 digs for UMass Lowell. She registered 20+ digs on eight occasions in 2016, which included a season-high 24 digs on Sept. 9th vs. FDU and Sept. 30th at Albany. Her 4.02 digs per set ranked fourth among America East defensive players.
The team honored its four-member graduating class on 2016 Senior Day on November 6th against Sacred Heart, as Elima Ahzi (Chula Vista, Calif.), Lauren Bennett (Wilmington, Mass.), Alexa Toth (Portland, Ore.) and Megan Young (Westlake Village, Calif.) played in their final collegiate home match at Costello Athletic Center
Credits:
Bob Ellis