Volleyball Falls to Neumann and Wheaton to Conclude Vassar Quad

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) volleyball team concluded the Vassar Quad Saturday afternoon inside Kenyon Hall in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., falling in a pair of matches to Neumann University (Neumann), 3-0 and Wheaton (Mass.), 3-0. With the results, the Blue Jays drop to 0-7 on the season while the Knights move to 4-3 and the Lyons improve to 5-0.

NEUMANN 3, USJ 0 (10-25, 9-25, 20-25)

• The Knights started the match strong, jumping out to an early 5-0 edge.
• The Blue Jays would begin to fight back, cutting the gap to two, 6-4, after two kills from sophomore outside hitter Bernae Webb (Bridgeport, Conn.).
• USJ would not get any closer though in the opening set as Neumann pulled away and took the first set, 25-10.
• Neumann would open the second set on a 5-0 run, but senior outside hitter Claire Quinn (Canton, Mass.) put an end to the run with a kill.
• However, the Knights responded with a 7-2 run, increasing the gap to 12-3 and forcing a USJ timeout.
• Neumann carried its momentum out of the break, winning the second set 25-9 to increase its lead in the match to 2-0.
• The Knights looked to take an early lead in set three, jumping out to a 7-3 edge, but a 3-0 USJ run, featuring a service ace by senior libero Fernanda Ayala Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) brought the Blue Jays within one, 7-6.
• USJ continued to maintain a close third set, keep the deficit at one point after a junior outside hitter Rachel Heaney (Torrington, Conn.) kill saw the Knights hold a slim 16-15 lead.
• Another timely Heaney kill and an error by Neumann tied the set at 18-18, but the Knights would utilize a 7-2 stretch to close out the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-0.

NOTES 

• Quinn and freshman outside hitter Shaye Harris (Prospect, Conn.) each had four kills to lead the Blue Jays.
• Sophomore setter Alexandra Long (East Hartford, Conn.) and graduate student setter Nicole Albert (Meriden, Conn.) each tallied six assists.
• Senior defensive specialist Katina Nanos (Lebanon, Conn.) paced the Blue Jays defensively, recording a team-high 12 digs.
• With the victory, Neumann took the inaugural meeting between the two programs.

WHEATON 3, USJ 0 (14-25, 17-25, 16-25)

• The Blue Jays started the opening set strong, jumping out to a 5-3 lead, utilizing kills from senior outside hitter Victoria Adler (Berlin, Conn.), Heaney and Harris.
• However, the Lyons would respond with a 6-1 stretch, taking the lead, 8-6.
• USJ fought back to tie the match after a Heaney kill and an ace from Adler, but a 3-0 Wheaton stretch forced USJ to call a timeout down 11-8.
• The Lyons began to pull away out of the break, not allowing USJ to get any closer as the Lyons took set one, 25-14.
• Wheaton gained the upper hand early in the second set, jumping out to a 4-1 edge.
• The Blue Jays would fight back, cutting the gap to 4-3 after a kill by Harris.
• However, Wheaton would reestablish a three-point lead, 12-9.
• The Lyons continued to pull away, winning the second set, 25-17, to take a 2-0 edge in the match.
• Wheaton pulled away early in the first set, opening up a 14-5 edge.
• The opening deficit ultimately proved too much for USJ to overcome, as Wheaton won the third set, 25-16, and the match, 3-0.

NOTES 

• Heaney paced the USJ offense with six kills.
• Albert notched a team-high five assists.
• Quinn and Long notched a team-high five digs each.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays return to West Hartford for a matchup against Framingham State on Tuesday, September 12. First serve against the Rams is set for 6:00 p.m. inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium.

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