Volleyball Drops Home Tri-Match to Mount Holyoke and Eastern Connecticut

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's volleyball team dropped both ends of a home tri-match Saturday inside the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium, falling to Mount Holyoke College (MHC), 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 28-26), in the opener before dropping a straight-set decision to intrastate foe Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), 3-0 (25-12, 25-8, 25-19), in the nightcap. With the results, the Blue Jays fell to 0-3 on the year, while the Lyons, who fell to the Warriors in the middle match, begin the season at 1-1, while ECSU improved to 3-0.

In the opener against MHC, junior middle blocker Sofia Weiss (Babylon, N.Y.) paced the Blue Jays with 10 kills. Junior middle blocker Vivian Pawloski (Wallingford, Conn.) chipped in five kills and two blocks, while junior outside hitter Shaye Harris (Bloomfield, Conn.) added five kills and seven digs. Sophomore setter Gabi Wanner (Southington, Conn.) dished out 20 assists, while sophomore libero Alyssa Dugas (Newington, Conn.) posted 13 digs and three service aces.

After dropping the first two sets, USJ rallied in the third, pushing the frame to extra points. Weiss, Pawloski, and graduate outside hitter Emilia Dugas (Newington, Conn.) each delivered timely kills to extend the set, enabling the Blue Jays to erase a late deficit and knot the score at 24-24. However, the Lyons capitalized on back-to-back points to claim the set, 28-26, and close out the match.

In the nightcap against ECSU, Harris and Emilia Dugas shared the team lead with five kills apiece, while Weiss added three kills and a block assist. Wanner handed out 11 assists to go with seven digs, and Dugas again anchored the defense with 15 digs.

USJ put together its best stretch of play in the third set, where the Blue Jays reached 19 points and kept pace with the Warriors through the early going. Emilia Dugas sparked the attack with efficient swings on the outside, while Harris chipped in a pair of kills to close the gap to 18-15. The Blue Jays trailed 21-18 before ECSU pulled away with four of the final five points to secure the 25-19 decision.

ECSU was paced by Haley Jo Bridges, who had 10 kills on .667 hitting and five blocks.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays round out a three-game homestand on Wednesday, September 3, welcoming local foes Trinity College to the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium. Opening serve against the Bantams is set for 6:00 p.m.

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