Volleyball Drops Season Opener at Intrastate Foe ECSU Friday Night

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) volleyball team fell in its season opener to intrastate foe Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), 3-0, Friday night inside Geissler Gymnasium in Willimantic, Conn. The Warriors won the match by scores of 25-12, 25-14, 25-10. With the result, the Blue Jays begin the year 0-1 while the Warriors move to 1-0.

KEY MOMENTS 

• The Warriors jumped out to a quick lead in the opening set, taking a 9-3 advantage.
• The Blue Jays began to fight back, as a junior outside hitter Bernae Webb (Bridgeport, Conn.) kill sparked a 4-1 scoring run, pulling USJ within six, 14-8.
• However, ECSU responded with a 10-3 run to reopen the gap, before winning the opening set, 25-12.
• ECSU carried the momentum into the second set, rushing out to a 15-3 edge.
• USJ again wouldn't go away, as three straight Warrior attack errors, followed by a kill from sophomore outside hitter Shaye Harris (Prosepct, Conn.) brought USJ back within 10, 17-7.
• The two teams would trade points, as a freshman outside hitter Lorynes Suriel (Lynn., Mass.) winner brought the Blue Jays within seven, 21-14, but four straight ECSU points saw the hosts win set two, 25-14.
• After a back-and-forth start to set three, the Warriors exploded for a 6-1 scoring run, forcing USJ to call a timeout trailing 14-6.
• USJ would notch back-to-back kills out of the break, from Suriel and sophomore middle blocker Vivian Pawloski (Wallingford, Conn.), but the Warriors proved too much, closing the set on an 11-2 run, sealing the set, 25-10, and the match, 3-0.

NOTES 

• Harris paced the team with five kills.
• Freshman setter Gabi Wanner (Southington, Conn.) dished out a team-best 13 assists in her collegiate debut.
• Senior libero Fernanda Ayala Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) tallied a team-high seven digs on the night.
• With the result, ECSU extended its winning streak to 22 matches, increasing its advantage in the all-time series to 22-2.

UP NEXT

The two teams waste little time in playing a rematch, as the Blue Jays welcome ECSU tomorrow, Saturday August 31 for a tri-match against the Warriors and Mount Holyoke inside the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford. USJ begins the day by facing the Lyons at noon, before meeting the Warriors on the court at 4:00 p.m.

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