Volleyball Takes Down Norwich, 3-1, on the Road in GNAC Play Friday Night

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) volleyball team picked up their first win of the year, taking down Norwich University (Norwich), 3-1, Friday night during Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play inside Andrews Gym in Northfield, Vt. With the result, the Blue Jays move to 1-7 overall and 1-1 in the conference while the Cadets drop to 1-9 overall and 0-2 in the GNAC.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Blue Jays started the match red hot, taking a quick 9-3 lead after stellar serving from senior libero Fernanda Ayala Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
• The Cadets closed the gap to three, 9-6, but kills from freshman outside hitter Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.), sophomore middle blocker Vivian Pawloski (Wallingford, Conn.) and senior outside hitter Rachel Heaney (Torrington, Conn.) increased the USJ lead to 12-7.
• Norwich cut the gap back to four, but the Blue Jays closed the set on a 12-3 run, fueled by two aces from Ayala Rodriguez and two kills from Suriel and sophomore middle blocker Sofia Weiss (Babylon, N.Y.) to take the opening set, 25-14.
• Norwich would bounce back in set two, winning 25-16 to tie the match at 1-1.
• USJ would not be deterred though, opening up a 10-5 edge to start set three, after Pawloski and Heaney recorded winners.
• The Blue Jays would maintain the lead, extending it to 19-14 after a kill from Suriel.
• USJ kept its foot on the gas, closing out the set on a 4-1 run, featuring two kills from Pawloski and a service ace from freshman defensive specialist Alyssa Dugas (Newington, Conn.) to win set three, 25-16, and take a 2-1 advantage in the match.
• The fourth, and ultimately final set, featured a back-and-forth start, as the two sides played out an 8-8 tie.
• The Blue Jays then broke open a six-point lead, 19-13, after a critical Norwich serving error.
• USJ would not let the hosts get any closer, as freshman outside hitter Ericka Pryz (Amityville, N.Y.) closed the set with three consecutive service aces, securing the set for USJ, 25-15, and the match, 3-1.

NOTES 

• Suriel had a career day, recording a team-high 15 kills.
• Wanner dished out a season-best 27 assists on the night, marking the first time this year that she tallied 20 or more helpers.
• Wanner also notched a double-double, tallying 17 digs.
• Ayala Rodriguez paced the defense with a team-high 27 digs.
• Weiss was a force at the net, recording two solo blocks.
• The Blue Jays outhit the Cadets, .159 percent to .038 percent.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays quickly return to the court, hosting Sarah Lawrence College for an on-conference match tomorrow, Saturday, September 21. Opening serve against the Gryphons inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium is slated for 1:00 p.m.

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