Volleyball Defeated by Albertus Magnus Wednesday

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph volleyball team was defeated in straight sets, 3-0, by the Albertus Magnus College Falcons on Wednesday night in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match. Senior Nicole Beard (Shelton, Conn.) posted a double-double with 19 assists and 17 digs to lead Albertus Magnus College to victory. With the setback the Blue Jays slide to 4-16 overall and 0-9 in the GNAC, while Albertus Magnus improves to 14-12 and 2-7. 

Albertus Magnus opened the first set with the quick 7-1 lead before finding themselves ahead by nine, 20-11, following an attack error by the Blue Jays. USJ rallied together a short spurt to cut the lead within five (22-17), but the hosts secured the win, 25-18.

The Blue Jays threatened the hosts in set two and took their first lead of the match, 11-10, after an attack error by Albertus Magnus. However, the Falcons came together and responded with a 5-0 run and would never trail again as they took set two from the Blue Jays, 25-19.

The third and final set was similar to set two as the visitors kept within arms reach of the hosts, but the Falcons used a 6-0 run in the middle of the set and then a 6-2 spurt to wrap things up and secure the sweep, 25-18.

Albertus Magnus finished the match with a .173 hitting percentage behind a total of 34 kills as a team. Sophomore Ashley David (West Islip, N.Y.) paced the Falcons' offense with a team-high 12 kills. Sophomore Jesselle Guzman (Santa Teresa, N.M.) led the team in service aces with five.

The Blue Jays won the defensive battle at the net posting 12 total blocks (two block solos and 10 block assists), compared to the Falcons two block solos by freshman Kimberly Keller (Bridgeport, Conn.). Junior Torrie Epps (Windsor, Conn.) and senior Hannah Lemek (Bristol, Conn.) each recorded a block solo and three block assists. Sophomore Jasmine Buckley (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) led the visitors with eight kills, two service aces and eight digs.

The Blue Jays return to the court next on Saturday, Oct. 21 as the team hosts Simmons College and Suffolk University in a GNAC tri-match beginning at 11 a.m. inside the O'Connell Center.