Monks Rally Past Blue Jays, 3-1

STANDISH, Maine – The University of Saint Joseph Blue Jays were defeated on the road by the Saint Joseph's College of Maine Monks, 3-1, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's volleyball match at the Harold Alfond Center on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jays won the opening set 25-23, but then were downed in the ensuing three sets 25-19, 25-21 and 25-20. The setback drops the Blue Jays record to 4-9 overall and 0-3 in the GNAC, while the Monks improve to 10-7 and 3-1.

After squandering an early lead and ultimately losing the first set, Saint Joseph's College of Maine cruised to second and third set victories to claim a 2-1 advantage. The fourth frame featured seven tie scores and four lead changes, but late kills from Erin Olson (Stoughton, Mass.), Jordynne Copp (Cumberland, Maine), and Chatham Mills (Gorham, Maine) pushed the hosts to a 25-20 set win and fifth-consecutive victory.

LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S COLLEGE:

·         Sophomore Kelsey Bickford (Somersworth, N.H.) posted 13 kills on 45 attempts

·         Copp recorded 11 kills, three digs, and a pair of block solos

·         Olson added 11 kills with two digs and a solo block

·         Mills chipped in with eight kills and three digs

·         Junior Sarah Dyer (Seabrook, N.H.) notched a double-double with 39 assists and 17 digs

·         Freshman Madison Provencher (Rochester, N.H.) dealt six service aces with six digs

·         Junior Jennelle Thompson (Farmington, N.H.) registered 40 digs

LEADERS – UNIVERSITY OF SAINT JOSEPH:

·         Sophomore Jasmine Buckley (Beacon, N.Y.) led all players with 16 kills on 48 attempts and added 13 digs

·         Senior Hannah Lemek (Bristol, Conn.) contributed seven kills, 10 digs, and three block solos

·         Junior Brenna Miller (McCleary, Wash.) dealt 23 assists with nine digs and three kills

·         Junior Carly Ruzbasan (Torrington, Conn.) chipped in with 20 digs and four kills

Saint Joseph's held advantages in kills (48-33), assists (46-29), and digs (86-74) in the conference victory. With the win, Saint Joseph's improves to 8-3 in the history of the series with University of Saint Joseph and has now defeated the Blue Jays in three-consecutive meetings dating back to the 2015 campaign.

The USJ volleyball team will return back to the court on Wednesday at home when they host undefeated Johnson & Wales University inside the O'Connell Center for a 7 p.m. match.