AUBURNDALE, Mass. – The Norwich University volleyball team opened up its 2014 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) season with a split against Lasell and the Univ. of St. Joseph (Conn.).

Norwich (5-8, 1-1 GNAC) rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win three straight sets and down Lasell in its second match of the day. The Cadets lost 25-20 and 25-17 before winning 25-23, 25-23 and 15-13 to stun the Lasers. Norwich dropped the opener 3-2 to USJ.

Senior middle hitter Kelsey Mancini (Lynnfield, Mass.) led Norwich with 10 kills in the Lasell match. Alex Palmer (South Windsor, Conn.) and Tara Lyons (Pocasset, Mass.) each had nine kills, while freshman Alma Turpin (Sterling, Va.) had seven kills. Freshman setter Katherine Crane (Avon, N.Y.) had 37 assists to lead the Cadets.

Sophomore Alex Ruediger (Sandy Lake, Pa.) led Norwich defensively with 19 digs, while Palmer tallied 17 and Angie Hershberger (Felton, Calif.) had 14 digs.

Lasell got 14 and 13 kills respectively from Kathy Cameron and Odina Ellis to lead its attack.

Mancini totaled 11 kills in the USJ match to once again lead Norwich with a .333 attacking percentage. Lyons and Palmer each had nine kills, while senior Corinne Baita (Rochester, N.H.) had eight kills. Palmer led Norwich defensively with 21 digs, while Ruediger had 17 and Hershberger tallied 12.

Tiffany Mapusaga had 14 kills for Univ. of St. Joseph and Ciara Perez added 12 for the Bluejays who improved to a perfect 4-0 in conference play.

Norwich will face Lyndon State on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. in non-conference action as the Cadets look to avenge a defeat at the hands of the Hornets from last season.