BOSTON, Mass. - #23 Southwestern upped their game and didn't drop a set in their three wins but fell to #5 Christopher Newport over the weekend. 

The Pirates charged out of the gates in their first match, facing Tufts. SU posted a .216 hitting percentage and crushed Tufts 25-10 in the opening set. Tufts bounced back to challenge Southwestern, but the Pirates were too hot to handle as they closed out the match with a 25-19 set two win and 25-22 set three win.

Meredith Rollins led the charge with 12 kills while Chandler Lentz had 20 digs. Rachel Thibodeau had four service aces to lead the way while Rollins added in three.

After the opening match win the Pirates turned their attention to #5 nationally-ranked Christopher Newport. CNU was on fire offensively with a .387 attack percentage in set one, winning 25-15. SU would not go away and fought back hard, narrowly dropping the second set 23-25 before turning the tables and winning 25-23 in the third set. Christopher Newport matched their first set effort in the fourth, however, and again hit .387 to win 25-11.

Rollins once again led with 12 kills while Kaitlyn Foster was close behind with 10 kills. Foster also led in digs with 18.

Day two pitted the Pirates against Endicott University. Southwestern never dropped below .250 on their attack percentage while holding Endicott to .094 for the match. Southwestern was never really challenged in the match as they cruised to a 25-15, 25-15, 25-15 win.

Foster and Rollins once again led with 12 and 11 kills each while Lentz, Foster and Thibodeau combined for 41 digs. Lacey Strickland led in assists with 27 but also posted a team high four aces.

For the final match of the tournament, SU took on host institution UMass Boston. Southwestern hit an impressive .330 for the match and held UMB to .146. to win 25-13, 25-15, 25-21.

No Pirate was in double-digits in kills but five SU hitters recorded five kills or more.

Now 17-7 on the season, the Pirates return to SCAC conference action in San Antonio this weekend. They open with Centenary College on Saturday afternoon.