Volleyball Falls to Colby-Sawyer and Rivier During GNAC Tri-Match

NASHUA, N.H. -  The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) volleyball team dropped both matches of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match against Rivier University (Rivier) and Colby-Sawyer College (CSC) Saturday afternoon inside the Muldoon Center in Nashua, N.H. The Blue Jays first fell to the Chargers, 3-0, before suffering defeat to the host Radiers, 3-1. Junior outside hitter Bernae Webb (Bridgeport, Conn.) paced the USJ offense with 18 total kills on the afternoon. With the results, the Blue Jays moved to 1-11 overall and 1-4 in the GNAC while the Chargers, who fell to Rivier earlier in the day, moved to 9-6 overall and 1-3 in the GNAC, while the Raiders improved to 7-6 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

CSC 3, USJ 0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-15)

• The Blue Jays jumped out to a quick 7-2 edge to open the match, receiving a pair of kills from junior outside hitter Tatianah Ziegler (Troy, N.Y.).
• The Chargers would answer back, tying the match at 7-7 and forcing a USJ timeout.
• CSC would take the lead, but freshman outside hitter Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) closed the gap to 12-10 after a kill.
• However, USJ would not get any closer, as the Chagers pulled away to win the opening set, 25-15.
• CSC carried the momentum into set two, establishing an 11-5 advantage.
• The Blue Jays closed the deficit to three, 14-11, utilizing a 3-0 run that featured winners from freshman setter Gabi Wanner (Southington, Conn.) and Webb.
• The Chargers though increased the edge to eight, 25-13, before the Bleu Jays began to mount a late comeback attempt, closing the deficit to 23-18 after an ace from sophomore middle blocker Vivian Pawloski (Wallingford, Conn.)
• The comeback attempt proved too little too late though, as CSC won set two, 25-21, to hold a 2-0 edge in the match.
• The Blue Jays rushed out to a 10-5 lead in set three, after a point from sophomore outside hitter Shaye Harris (Prospect, Conn.).
• However, CSC utilized a 12-1 scoring run to jump out to a 17-11 edge. The run proved critical for the Chargers, as they controlled the rest of the set, winning 25-15, to secure the match, 3-0.
• Webb tallied a team-high eight kills.
• Wanner recorded a double-double dishing out 20 assists and racking up 12 digs.
• Senior libero Fernanda Ayala Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) tallied 17 digs.

RIVIER 3, USJ 1 (25-19, 25-8, 16-25, 25-5)

• The Raiders grabbed the lead early in the match, holding a 13-6 edge.
• USJ would fight back, utilizing a 6-1 run, fueled by three aces from Suriel, to cut the gap to three, 19-16.
• However, Rivier would hold the Blue Jays off, winning the first set, 25-19.
• The Raiders kept the momentum in set two, overwhelming the Blue Jays to take the set, 25-8, and a 2-0 lead in the match.
• USJ would not go away easy though, taking a 13-10 lead in set three after four consecutive winners from Harris.
• Rivier would cut the gap to one, 14-13, but three service aces by Wanner extended the USJ advantage to seven, 20-13.
• The Blue Jays controlled the remainder of the set, as Rivier committed two service aces to close out the set, securing the set victory for USJ, 25-16, and cutting the deficit in the match to 2-1.
• However, Rivier responded by dominating the fourth set, limiting USJ to five points to take the victory, 25-5, and the match, 3-1.
• Webb tallied 10 kills to pace USJ.
• Wanner dished out 16 assists.
• Harris paced the defense, recording 10 digs.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays take a break from GNAC play, returning to the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium for a non-conference match against intrastate foes Western Connecticut State University on Wednesday, October 2. First serve against the Wolves is slated for 6:00 p.m.

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