Volleyball Wins Two

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph volleyball team swept a non-conference tri-match Saturday at the O'Connell Center.

The Blue Jays defeated Pine Manor in the morning 3-0 (25-9, 25-9, 25-6) and came back in their afternoon match for another 3-0 win, this time over Pratt Institute by scores of 25-16, 25-12, 25-23.

The Blue Jays improved to 5-7 overall. Pratt ended the day 3-2 and Pine Manor is 0-9. Pratt edged Pine Manor 3-2 (23-25, 25-15, 25-13, 18-25, 15-12) in the second match of the day.

Saint Joseph hit effectively all day, particularly in the opener against Pine Manor with 35 kills against only 10 errors on 72 swings. Passing was also crisp and allowed USJ to smoothly run its system as setter Megan Williams (Lakeville, Conn.) piled up 32 assists on the team's 35 kills.

Emily Vigue (Lebanon, Conn.) had a match-high nine kills for USJ on 14 attempts, Ciara Perez (Manchester, Conn.) had eight kills on 11 tries and Rebecca DiPinto (Burlington, Conn.) had seven kills on 12 swings and each had just one hitting error. Williams also served up four aces. Phalonge Pierre (Boston, Mass.) had three kills for Pine Manor.

In the finale, Vigue had eight more kills and Perez and DiPinto had six apiece for USJ. Williams had 23 assists and Elizabeth Tuazon (Mystic, Conn.) had 13 digs for the Blue Jays. Pratt was led by Lezama, who had five kills and 19 digs.

USJ returns to action Tue. Sept 24 with a non-conference match at Bard at 7 p.m.