Women's Volleyball Splits GNAC Tri-Match Against AMC and Simmons on Senior Day

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) volleyball team split its Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match against Albertus Magnus College (AMC) and Simmons University (Simmons) during senior day inside the O'Connell Center in West Hartford. The Blue Jays first defeated AMC in the opening match, 3-1, before falling to the Sharks, 3-0, in the finale to conclude their 2022 campaign. 

GAME ONE 
Score: USJ 3, AMC 1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-14, 25-12) 
Records: USJ (6-20, 2-10 GNAC), AMC (6-24, 2-10 GNAC) 
Location: O'Connell Center (West Hartford, Conn.) 

GAME TWO 
Score: USJ 0, Simmons 3 (19-25, 10-25, 12-25) 
Records: USJ (6-21, 2-11 GNAC), Simmons (13-11, 8-3 GNAC) 
Location: O'Connell Center (West Hartford, Conn.) 

KEY MOMENTS 

• AMC jumped out to an early 8-4 lead during the opening set. However, the Blue Jays would close to the gap to three, 10-7, after kills from senior Shannon Carey (Bayport, N.Y.) and junior Victoria Adler (Berlin, Conn.).
• The Blue Jays would continue to fight back, utilizing a 6-1 run to tie the set at 14-24 and force a Falcon's timeout. Fueling the stretch was a kill from senior Hannah Benson (Terryville, Conn.), a kill and ace by Adler and a kill from junior Victoria Isokpehi (Lagos, Nigeria).
• The Blue Jays continued to put their foot on the gas, taking a 20-16 lead after an AMC error and kills by senior Sarah Haire (Vernon, Conn.) and Carey.
• However, the Falcon's stormed back, taking the opening set, 25-23.
• USJ started the second set strong, taking a 6-3 lead after a point from sophomore Rachel Heaney (Torrington, Conn.).
• AMC would cut the gap one, 7-6, but USJ responded with a 7-0 run, extending its lead to 14-6. The stretch was highlighted by four consecutive service aces from senior Nicole Albert (Meriden, Conn.).
• The Flacons tried to fight back, closing the score to 16-13, but the Blue Jays reestablished a six-point advantage, 19-13, after a kill from Adler.
• USJ continued to cruise in the remainder of the second set, as back-to-back AMC errors secured the second set for USJ, 25-18, tying the match at 1-1.
• The third set was a back-and-forth affair between the two sides, as they played out a 5-5 tie.
• Senior Natalia Rabassa (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico) would record two service aces to pace a 4-0 Blue Jays run, giving the hosts a 9-5 edge.
• The Falcons continued to keep the set close, pulling within two, 14-12. However, the Blue Jays exploded for an 11-2 run to pull within set point, 24-14. A costly AMC error gave USJ the set, 25-18, and a 2-1 lead in the match.
• The Blue Jays dominated in the fourth, and ultimately final, set, taking a commanding 7-1 lead after points from Adler, Benson and Heaney.
• Another USJ 11-1 run would extend the lead to 18-4 before the Blue Jays continued to cruise to a 25-12 fourth set victory, taking the opening match, 3-1.
• The first set in the match against Simmons was a tightly contested battle, as the two teams played out a 10-10 draw.
• The two teams continued to trade points back-and-forth as the set reached a 19-19 stalemate. However, a late 6-0 Simmons run secured the opening set for the Sharks, 25-19.
• Simmons took an early lead in the second set, jumping out to a 9-0 lead.
• The Sharks would extend its lead to as much as 15, 20-5. The deficit would be too much for the Blue Jays to overcome as the visitors took the second set, 25-10.
• Simmons carried its momentum into the third set, taking a 7-1 lead. USJ would fight back, using a 4-0 run, featuring kills from Benson and Heaney, to cut the gap to 7-5.
• However, the Sharks would reestablish a big lead, taking a 19-7 edge. The deficit again proved too much for the Blue Jays to overcome as Simmons took the set, 25-12, and the match, 3-0.

NOTES 

• Benson paced the offense with 19 kills across the two matches. Carey followed closely behind with 17.
• Junior Fernanda Ayala Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) was the primary USJ playmaker, recording 28 assists on the day. Albert trailed closely behind with 27.
• Rabassa paced the USJ defense, notching 20 digs on the day.
• Albert also lead the team in service aces with eight.
• The Blue Jays won its third straight match against AMC, taking a 15-4 edge in the all-time series against the Falcons.ac
• Simmons extended its winning streak over USJ to seven matched. The Sharks now lead the all-time series, 14-4.

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