Volleyball Splits Home GNAC Tri-Match Against Anna Maria and Regis

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -  The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) volleyball team split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match at home against Anna Maria College (AMC) and Regis College (Regis) Saturday afternoon inside the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford, Conn. The Blue Jays started the day with a 3-0 victory over the AMCATS, before falling to the Pride, 3-0, during the final match of the day. With the results, the Blue Jays moved to 2-13 overall and 2-5 in the GNAC, while the AMCATS, who fell to Regis during the middle match, moved to 1-15 overall and 0-4 in the GNAC. The Pride improved to 12-5 overall and 5-1 in the conference with the pair of victories.

USJ 3, AMC 0 (25-9, 25-11, 25-12)

• The Blue Jays rushed out to an early 12-3 lead, taking advantage of five AMC attack errors, while receiving kills from junior outside hitter Bernae Webb (Bridgeport, Conn.), sophomore outside hitter Shaye Harris (Prospect, Conn.), senior outside hitter Rachel Heaney (Torrington, Conn.) and sophomore outside hitter Karla Flores (Oakdale, Conn.)
• USJ extended the gap to 22-7, as Harris notched two service aces during a 4-0 stretch.
• The Blue Jays closed out the set with three-consecutive points, as winners from Flores and sophomore middle blocker Vivian Pawloski (Wallingford, Conn.) secured a 25-9 set victory for the hosts.
• The second set featured a back-and-forth opening, that saw USJ hold a slim 7-6 edge.
• USJ then found its stride, utilizing a 10-1 scoring run, paced by two kills from Pawloski and two service aces by freshman outside hitter Ericka Pyrz (Amityville, N.Y.) to break open a 21-9 lead.
• The Blue Jays continued to dominate, winning the second set, 25-11, to extend it's advantage in the match to 2-0.
• AMC jumped out to a quick 6-2 edge to open the third set, but a 5-1 USJ run, capped off by two kills from Flores, tied the match at 7-7.
• The Blue Jays then began to pull away as two kills from Pawloski and two aces by junior outside hitter Tatianah Ziegler (Troy, N.Y.) sparked a 8-0 run to establish a 15-8 Blue Jays lead.
• The AMCATS would not get any closer, as freshman setter Gabi Wanner (Southington, Conn.) notched two service aces to close out the set, securing a 25-12 set win, and a 3-0 match victory.
• Pawloski paced the team with eight kills.
• Wanner dished out a team-best 20 assists.
• Senior libero Fernanda Ayala Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) notched a team-high 16 digs.
• USJ hit a season-high .259 percent during the match.

REGIS 3, USJ 0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-21)

• The Pride controlled the opening set from start to finish, winning the first set, 25-11.
• Harris paced the offense with four kills in the opening stanza.
• The second set saw the two teams trade points, as a Harris kill limited the Pride to a two-point edge, 9-7.
• However, USJ would not get any closer for the remainder of the set, as Regis took set two, 25-13, and increased the gap in the match to 2-0.
• Regis broke open another quick lead, but back-to-back winners from Harris and freshman outside hitter Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) cut the Pride's advantage to 10-8.
• The Pride would go on to hold a 19-11 lead, but a 7-2 USJ run, fueled by aces from Ayala Rodriguez and Harris, and kills from Heaney and Suriel, saw the hosts closed the deficit back to three, 21-18.
• Harris would keep the Blue Jays within two, 23-21, after a late kill, but the Pride secured the final two points, holding off the Blue Jays for a 25-21 set win, and a 3-0 match victory.
• Harris led the team with 10 kills.
• Wanner dished out a team-best 19 assists.
• Ayala Rodriguez tallied a team-high 11 digs.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays take a break from GNAC play, heading to Framingham, Mass., for a non-conference match against Framingham State University on Tuesday, October 8. First serve against the Rams inside the Athletic & Recreation Center is set for 6:00 p.m.

FOLLOW
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph Athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays