Volleyball Falls at Simmons

BOSTON, Mass. – The University of Saint Joseph volleyball team won the first set, but dropped a 3-1 decision to Simmons in a GNAC Match Monday afternoon at the Holmes Sports Center.

Simmons is now 8-18 overall and 5-1 in the GNAC; St. Joseph falls to 8-13 overall and 2-5 in the conference. The Blue Jays won the first set 25-23 before Simmons won the next three, 25-16, 25-23 and 25-21.

Ciara Perez (Manchester, Conn.) had 10 kills and 10 digs for the Blue Jays. Elizabeth Tuazon had a team-high 15 digs and Megan Williams (Lakeville, Conn.) had 21 assists. Amanda Dondero (Mastic, N.Y.) and Rebecca DiPinto (Burlington, Conn.) each chipped in five kills.

The first set was even at 22, but a service ace by Justine Walicki (Plainville, Conn.) and a kill from DiPinto keyed the first set win. The second set was tied at 10 before the Sharks took control offensively and never trailed again. The third was hard-fought until the end, as USJ came back from a five-point deficit to tie the game at 21, but the Blue Jays had three errors down the stretch. Simmons used an eight-point run to turn a 14-12 USJ lead into a 20-14 Simmons advantage and the Sharks closed out the match.

St. Joseph hosts Curry College, Thur. Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. The game will be preceded by a Senior Night ceremony honoring Amanda Dondero and Rebecca DiPinto.