STANDISH, Maine – University of New England (11-13, 4-4 CCC) outlasted Saint Joseph's College (14-15, 6-4 GNAC), 3-2 (25-20, 25-20, 21-25, 19-25, 15-11) in a non-conference volleyball match at the Harold Alfond Center on Thursday eveni
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After dropping the first two sets by identical 25-20 scores, the Monks rallied from a 3-0 deficit with seven unanswered points en route to posting a 25-21 win in the third frame. Similarly, Saint Joseph's trailed by an 8-6 margin in the fourth set but rebounded with a 13-1 surge – which included three service aces from freshman Sophia Randall (Epping, N.H.) – and held off UNE with a 25-19 triumph to force a fifth set.
In the deciding set, the Monks looked to use a familiar formula to pick up the match victory, as the hosts faced a 10-6 deficit before mounting 5-2 run to cut their disadvantage down to 12-11. But the Nor'easters got their second wind and rattled off three unanswered points, a burst punctuated by a Katie Marsh (Melbourne, Australia) service ace to lift the visitors to a 15-11 set win and 3-2 match victory.
SENIOR MOMENT:
Prior to the start of the match, the SJC volleyball program held a brief ceremony to honor the team's lone senior – Jordynne Copp (Cumberland, Maine). The two-year team captain and four-year starter was joined at mid-court by her parents and members of her extended family, who helped her celebrate the final home game of her collegiate career.
LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Sophomore Kelsey Bickford (Somersworth, N.H.) notched a double-double with 15 kills (on 57 attempts) and 16 digs and added a pair of service aces in the loss
- Copp registered 12 kills and three block solos
- Freshman Erin Olson (Stoughton, Mass.) produced eight kills and four total blocks
- Junior Jennelle Thompson (Farmington, N.H.) picked up a match-high 29 digs
- Randall added a match-high 35 assists with four aces and seven digs
- Sophomore Bailey Gryskwicz (Standish, Maine) produced 11 digs and a pair of aces
LEADERS – UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND:
- Junior Bekah Mather (Welches, Oregon) boasted 15 kills on 47 attempts with four digs
- Junior Rene Roggenbuck (Goffstown, N.H.) contributed 12 kills and eight block solos
- Freshman Micaela McNamara (Westminster, Mass.) added 10 kills on 23 attempts for a .304 attack rate
- Freshman Sydney Christiansen (Palatine, Ill.) posted seven kills, 24 assists, and 15 digs
- Senior Kristen Falcinelli (Silver Spring, Md.) chipped in with 20 assists and 17 digs
- Marsh finished the match with 25 digs, six assists, and three aces
TEAM STATS:
University of New England held advantages in kills (56-38), assists (54-37), digs (87-78), and blocks (11-7) while Saint Joseph's owned an 11-9 edge in service aces in the losing bid.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the setback, Saint Joseph's falls to 7-54 versus University of New England (since 1989). Tonight marked the rubber match between the in-state rivals this fall with the Nor'easters winning the season series, 2-1.
NEXT!
The Monks close out the regular season with a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match with #11 Johnson & Wales University at Mount Ida College on Saturday.
#GOMONKS
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 474-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
