Volleyball Drops Season Opener at Home to ECSU Friday, 3-1

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) volleyball team fell in its season opener to intrastate foe Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), 3-1, Friday inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford, Conn. With the result, the Blue Jays begin the year 0-1 while the Warriors move to 1-0.

KEY MOMENTS 

• USJ started the game strong, jumping out to a 6-1 lead after a pair of aces from senior middle blocker Victoria Adler (Berlin, Conn.) and a kill by senior outside hitter Shannon Carey (Bayport, N.Y.).

• The Warriors fought back, levelling the score at 13-13 later in the set, before jumping out to a 21-13 edge.

• The Blue Jays looked to get back in the opening set late, as a pair of ECSU errors brought the Blue Jays within six, 23-17, but the Warriors held on to take the opening set, 25-17.

• ECSU carried the momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 6-2 lead.

• Graduate student setter Nicole Albert (Berlin, Conn.) showed her prowess at the service line, recording back-to-back aces to pull USJ within one, 6-5.

• The second set remained close as USJ established a three-point lead, before three straight Warrior miscues, enabled USJ to take a 21-16 lead in the second set.

• ECSU pulled back within three, 21-18, but kills from Adler and freshman outside hitter Shaye Harris (Prospect, Conn.) followed by an ECSU service error gave the Blue Jays the win in the second set, 25-20, to tie the match at 1-1.

• The two sides traded scoring runs to begin the third set, as ECSU held a narrow 10-9 advantage.

• USJ would retake the lead through a Carey kill, 18-15, but ECSU continued to claw back, tying the set at 22-22. The two sides continued to trade points, as Adler brought the Blue Jays within set point, 24-23, but three straight Warriors tallies saw them take the third set, 26-24, and a 2-1 lead in the match.

• ECSU looked to gain the edge early in set four, jumping out to a 10-6 lead.

• Two attacking errors by the Warriors followed by a Harris kill enabled USJ to pull back within one, 10-9, but three unanswered ECSU points saw the visitors jump back out to a 13-9 edge.

• The Blue Jays would not be able to get any closer, as ECSU held off any last minute USJ comeback, taking the fourth set, 25-19, and the match, 3-1.

NOTES 

• Carey paced the USJ offense with 11 kills.
• Harris had a solid debut game for USJ, tallying nine kills and three digs.
• Senior libero Fernanda Ayala Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) paced the USJ defense, tallying 13 digs.
• With the result, ECSU extended its winning streak to 20 matches, increasing its advantage in the all-time series to 20-2.

UP NEXT

The two teams waste little time in playing a rematch, as the Blue Jays head to ECSU tomorrow, Saturday September 2 for a tri-match against the Warriors and Mount Holyoke inside Geissler Gymnasium in Willimantic, Conn. USJ begins the day by facing the Warriors at noon, before meeting the Lyons on the court at 2:00 p.m.

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