Women's Volleyball Drops GNAC Match at New England College Saturday Afternoon

HENNIKER, N.H. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) volleyball team dropped a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match at New England College (NEC), 3-0, Saturday afternoon inside Bridges Gym in Henniker, N.H. With the result, the Blue Jays fall to 2-15 overall and 2-6 in the GNAC while the Pilgrims improve to 9-12 overall and 5-7 in the conference.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The opening set was a back-and-forth affair, as the Blue Jays tied the set at 11-11 after a kill from sophomore outside hitter Shaye Harris (Prospect, Conn.).
• USJ then broke open a lead, utilizing a 5-1 stretch, fueled by a pair of winners from senior outside hitter Rachel Heaney (Torrington, Conn.), to take a 19-15 edge.
• The Pilgrims were able to even the set at 20-20, but the Blue Jays got within set point, 24-21, after two kills from Harris and a winner from sophomore middle blocker Vivian Pawloski (Wallingford, Conn.).
• However, NEC would battle back, forcing the set to go past the typical 25-point mark, eventually stealing the opening set, 29-27.
• After a close start to the second set, the Pilgrims used a 12-2 run to hold a 20-9 advantage.
• The Blue Jays would attempt a late comeback, as a kill from junior outside hitter Bernae Webb (Bridgeport, Conn.) and a service ace from harris brought the score to 24-15, but the Pilgrims secured the final point, winning the set, 25-15, and taking a 2-0 edge in the match.
• NEC again broke open a sizable advantage to start the third set, holding a 20-11 lead.
• A quick 3-0 stretch, featuring kills from Heaney and sophomore outside hitter Karla Flores (Oakdale, Conn.) brought the Blue Jays within five, 20-15.
• However, the late run proved to be too late, as NEC secured the match victory after a 25-16 set win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Harris paced the team with eight kills.
• Freshman setter Gabi Wanner (Southington, Conn.) recorded a double-double, dishing out a match-high 26 assists and tallying 11 digs.
• Senior libero Fernanda Ayala Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) notched a team-high 15 digs.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays return home for a two-game homestand, starting with a match against Bay Path University on Wednesday, October 23. Opening serve against the Wildcats inside the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford, Conn., is slated for 6:00 p.m.

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