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Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Posted: Sep 10, 2025

Women's Volleyball Holds Off Fitchburg State, 3-1, Wednesday Night

Video Box Score
Game Leaders
Saint Joseph (Conn.)
K: Shaye Harris - 17
B: Sofia Weiss - 3
D: Alyssa Dugas - 42
SA: Gabi Wanner - 5
Fitchburg St.
K: Stephanie Sardella - 13
B: Gabrielle Griffiths - 6
D: Stephanie Sardella - 22
SA: 2 Players (#1, #7) - 2
Team Stats
Full stats

FITCHBURG, Mass. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's volleyball team earned its first victory of the 2025 season, battling past Fitchburg State, 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 26-28, 25-22), Wednesday evening inside Parkinson Gymnasium in Fitchburg, Mass. With the result, the Blue Jays improved to 1-7 on the year, while the Falcons fell to 0-5.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • USJ jumped out quickly in the opening set as sophomore setter Gabi Wanner (Southington, Conn.) delivered three straight service aces.

  • Junior outside hitter Shaye Harris (Bloomfield, Conn.) and graduate outside hitter Emilia Dugas (Newington, Conn.) added kills during a 10-2 surge, pushing the USJ lead to 17-7.

  • Fitchburg rallied late, but Harris closed the set with another winner to secure a 25-18 victory in the opening frame.

  • Harris and junior right side Karla Flores (Oakdale, Conn.) scored early to give USJ a 9-5 cushion in the second set.

  • Wanner continued to spread the offense, feeding Dugas for a pair of kills that extended the Blue Jays' margin to 19-12.

  • A late push from the Falcons cut the gap to 21-17, but Flores and Wanner responded with back-to-back points to finish off a 25-18 win, and extend the gap to 2-0.

  • Set three proved to be the tightest of the night, featuring 14 ties and seven lead changes.

  • Harris kept the offense rolling, while sophomore libero Alyssa Dugas (Newington, Conn.) came up with several big digs to extend rallies.

  • The Blue Jays had set point at 25-24, but Fitchburg capitalized on two errors and held on for a 28-26 win to extend the match.

  • The two sides battled back-and-forth to open the fourth set, trading points until Harris rattled off consecutive kills to put USJ ahead 15-13.

  • Junior middle blocker Vivian Pawloski (Wallingford, Conn.) added a block, and Alyssa Dugas dug up multiple Falcon swings to keep the lead intact.

  • Fitchburg tied it at 20-20, but Harris responded with another kill, and junior middle blocker Sofia Weiss (Babylon, N.Y.) followed with a block.

  • USJ closed the door with steady serving and defense, clinching the set 25-22, and the match, 3-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Harris led the attack with a match-high 17 kills.

  • Wanner directed the offense with 36 assists and five service aces.

  • A. Dugas was dominant defensively, finishing with 42 digs.

  • Weiss paced the Blue Jays at the net with three blocks.

  • USJ hit .142 as a team, while Fitchburg State posted a .071 hitting percentage.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays remain on the road, heading to Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y. on Saturday, September 13 for a non-conference tri-match against the host Gryphons and Curry College. The Blue Jays open the day against Curry at noon inside the Campbell Sports Center.

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