Volleyball Falls to Mount Holyoke and ECSU During Home Tri-Match

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) volleyball team fell to intrastate foe Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) and Mount Holyoke College (MHC) during a home tri-match Saturday afternoon inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford, Conn. The Blue Jays opened the day with a 3-0 loss to the Lyons, before falling in straight sets, 3-0, to ECSU. In the middle match, MHC defeated the Warriors, 3-0. With the results, the Blue Jays dropped to 0-3 on the year while the Warriors moved to 2-1 and the Lyons began its season 2-0.

MHC 3, USJ 0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-18)

• After falling behind early, the Blue Jays took a swift 4-3 edge after garnering kills from sophomore outside hitter Shaye Harris (Prospect, Conn.), sophomore middle blocker Sofia Weiss (Babylon, N.Y.), and senior outside hitter Rachel Heaney (Torrington, Conn.).
• However, the Lyons later utilized a 7-1 run to break open a 13-7 advantage.
• A junior outside hitter Bernae Webb (Brideport, Conn.) ace, followed by a MHC error brought USJ back within four, 13-9, but the Blue Jays would not get any closer, as MHC held off USJ to win the opening set, 25-15.
• The Lyons carried the momentum into the second set, rushing out to a 16-5 lead.
• MHC and USJ would trade points across the next few rallies, but the visitors utilized a 5-2 scoring run to close out the set, 25-12, and increase its lead to 2-0.
• The Blue Jays started out the third set strong, taking advantage of MHC attack errors, while Heaney notched two kills to establish a 7-4 USJ lead.
• However, seven unanswered Lyons points saw the visitors reclaim the advantage, 11-7.
• USJ answered with four straight points, tying the set at 11-11, but the visitors rushed back out to a seven point lead, 20-13.
• Heaney and Harris combined for three-straight winners to bring the Blue Jays back within three late, 21-18, but it was not enough as MHC won the set, 25-18, and the match, 3-0.
• Heaney recorded a team-high eight kills.
• Freshman setter Gabi Wanner (Southington, Conn.) notched a double-double, dishing out a team-high 12 assists and tallying 10 digs.
• Harris collected a team-best 15 digs.

ECSU 3, USJ 0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-19)

• The Warriors gained the early edge, establishing a 9-5 edge.
• USJ fought back, equalizing the opening set at 10-10 after kills from sophomore middle blocker Vivian Pawloski (Wallingford, Conn.), and an ace from junior outside hitter Tatianah Ziegler (Troy, N.Y.).
• The set remained deadlocked at 14-14 after a service ace from Harris, but the Warriors took control for the remainder of the set, winning 25-18.
• USJ started red-hot in the second set, as Wanner served five consecutive points, establishing a 5-0 USJ lead.
• The Warriors did not go away though, battling back to hold a 9-8 edge.
• The remainder of the set remained neck-and-neck, but the Blue Jays would not be able to tie the set, or take the lead, as ECSU won set two, 25-19.
• ECSU carried the momentum into the final set, jumping out to a 7-1 lead.
• USJ began to mount a comeback, as Ziegler served three straight points, bringing the Blue Jays back within four, 16-12.
• The Blue Jays would not get any closer though, as the Warriors took the set, 25-19, and the match, 3-0.
• Harris notched a team-best nine kills.
• Senior libero Fernanda Ayala Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) tallied 12 digs.
• Wanner dished out a team-best 19 helpers.
• With the result, ECSU extended its winning streak to 23 matches, increasing its advantage in the all-time series to 23-2.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays head back on the road for a meeting against local foes Trinity College on Tuesday, September 4 in Hartford. First serve against the Bantams is set for 6:00 p.m. inside Ray Oosting Gymnasium.

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