Volleyball Falls to Lasell and New England College in Regular-Season Finale

HENNIKER, N.H. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's volleyball team saw its 2025 season come to a close Saturday, falling in straight sets to Lasell University (Lasell) and host New England College (NEC) during a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match inside Bridges Gym in Henniker, N.H. With the results, the Blue Jays finish the year at 6-23 overall and 4-9 in GNAC play.

LASELL 3, USJ 0 (25-10, 25-22, 25-12)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Blue Jays fell behind early in the first set but responded with four straight points behind a kill from junior outside hitter Shaye Harris (Bloomfield, Conn.) to pull within two at 6-4.

• Graduate student outside hitter Emilia Dugas (Newington, Conn.) and sophomore libero Alyssa Dugas (Newington, Conn.) added points later in the frame, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome as Lasell took the opener, 25-10.

• USJ showed grit in the second set, using strong serving from senior defensive specialist Tatianah Zeigler (Windsor, Conn.) and kills from E. Dugas and sophomore setter Gabi Wanner (Southington, Conn.) to take an 8-6 lead.

• The Blue Jays extended their advantage to 14-11 after an ace from Wanner forcing Lasell to take a timeout.

• Harris and Ziegler notched key kills to keep USJ within striking distance late, but the Lasers edged out the frame, 25-22.

• In the third, graduate student middle hitter Avery Fitzgerald (Milford, Conn.) and junior rightside hitter Karla Flores (Oakdale, Conn.) combined for early kills to keep USJ close, while junior middle blocker Sofia Weiss (Babylon, N.Y.) added a service ace to make it 6-7.

• The Blue Jays earned late points from E. Dugas and A. Dugas, but Lasell closed out the match, 25-12.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Fitzgerald paced the offense with five kills.

• E. Dugas and Harris both chipped in four winners.

• Wanner tallied a team-high 16 assists and nine digs.

NEC 3, USJ 0 (25-22, 25-8, 25-16)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• USJ opened the match on a strong note, taking an early 3-1 lead behind back-to-back kills from Fitzgerald and steady setting from Wanner.

• After a short NEC run, the Blue Jays regrouped as Dugas and Weiss found seams in the defense to cut the deficit.

• Harris sparked the attack midway through the frame with consecutive kills to even the score at 18, then gave USJ a 19-18 lead on a well-placed cross-court swing.

• Dugas and Fitzgerald kept the pressure on late, each adding a pair of kills, but the Blue Jays narrowly dropped the opening set, 25-22.

• The second set saw USJ fight to regain momentum after a tough start. Dugas and Harris broke through with back-to-back kills, while Fitzgerald and Ziegler added points down the stretch, though the Blue Jays couldn't recover from the early hole, as the Pilgrims won the set, 25-8.

• USJ settled in during the third set, with Harris and Dugas landing early kills and Weiss putting up a block to keep the Blue Jays within reach.

• Fitzgerald continued to find success on the right side, while Harris delivered a service ace during a late 3-0 run, but the rally came up just short as USJ fell, 25-16.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Fitzgerald paced the offense for the second-straight match, tallying seven kills.

• Harris notched six kills, while E. Dugas added five.

• Wanner dished out 14 assists against NEC.

• A. Duags record a team-best 15 digs.

• Harris added two service aces to pace the team.

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