Volleyball Falls to Regis, Bests Norwich During GNAC Tri-Match Saturday

WESTON, Mass. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's volleyball team split a pair of Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matches on Saturday, falling 3-1 to Regis College (Regis) before bouncing back with a 3-1 victory over Norwich University (NU) at Higgins Court on the campus of Regis in Weston, Mass. With the results, the Blue Jays moved to 3-13 overall and 1-3 in GNAC play.

REGIS 3, USJ 1 (25-18, 25-19, 20-25, 25-21)

Regis pulled away midway through the first set, using four straight points to take control and secure a 25-18 decision.

Junior outside hitter Shaye Harris (Bloomfield, Conn.) tallied three kills in the opening frame, while graduate outside hitter Emilia Dugas (Newington, Conn.) added a kill and block.

The Pride jumped ahead early in the second, stringing together a 6-1 run to lead 12-6. USJ responded with kills from Harris and sophomore middle blocker Vivian Pawloski (Wallingford, Conn.), but Regis held firm to claim the set, 25-19.

The Blue Jays showed grit in the third, using a 7-2 run capped by a kill from Pawloski to open a 15-10 lead. Harris added two late kills as USJ closed out its best set of the day, 25-20.

In the fourth, USJ traded points to stay within 21-20 after a junior middle blocker Sofia Weiss (Babylon, N.Y.) block, but Regis notched four of the last five points to finish the match, 25-21.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Harris paced the Blue Jays with 14 kills and seven digs.

• E. Dugas added 13 kills, eight digs, and two blocks.

• Pawloski hit .417 with six kills and five total blocks.

• Setter Gabi Wanner (Southington, Conn.) dished out 27 assists to go with eight digs.

• Libero Alyssa Dugas (Newington, Conn.) tallied 16 digs.

• USJ hit .218 as a team compared to Regis' .167.

USJ 3, NU 1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-19)

Norwich claimed a close opening set, 25-23, despite kills from Harris and Pawloski that kept USJ within striking distance late.

The Blue Jays responded in set two, jumping out to an early lead behind a pair of Harris kills. E. Dugas added back-to-back points as USJ evened the match with a 25-18 win.

Set three was tightly contested, featuring 10 ties. Harris and Weiss combined for three straight points to push USJ ahead, 22-20. Norwich pulled even at 23-23, but Harris delivered a kill followed by a service ace from Wanner to seal it, 25-23.

In the fourth, USJ carried the momentum, using a 6-1 run capped by a Pawloski block to lead 18-13. The Blue Jays closed strong with kills from E. Dugas and Harris to finish off the Cadets, 25-19, and secure the 3-1 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Harris powered the offense with 18 kills and nine digs.

• E. Dugas chipped in 12 kills and 11 digs for a double-double.

• Wanner dished out 32 assists and added seven digs.

• A. Dugas led the defense with 18 digs.

• Pawloski contributed eight kills and three blocks.

• USJ outhit Norwich, .215 to .167.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays return home for a tri-match against GNAC foe Saint Joseph's College of Maine and non-conference opponent Framingham State on Saturday, October 4. Opening serve inside the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium against the Monks is set for 11:00 a.m., while start time against the Rams is slated for 3:00 p.m.

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