Volleyball Shut Out at Saint Joseph
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph volleyball team swept the Mitchell College Mariners, 3-0, in non-conference play at the O'Connell Athletic Center on Tuesday night.
The Blue Jays won in straight sets (25-20, 25-21, 25-12) to improve to 3-6 overall on the season, while the Mariners fell to 0-6 with the loss. Jasmine Buckley led the way offensively for the Blue Jays with a match-high 12 kills, while Brenna Miller dished out a match-high 23 assists. Buckley also posted a career-high seven service aces. Defensively, Janell Molina recorded a career-high 19 digs and Hannah Lemek registered a pair of solo blocks.
For Mitchell, Nikki Gerald finished with a team-high three kills and Lauren Tompkins facilitated with 10 assists. Courtney Cappabianca led the defensive charge for the Mariners with 13 digs.
USJ raced right out of the gate to an early 4-0 lead and never trailed in the opening set. The Blue Jays built their lead to as large as seven (11-4) following back-to-back service aces by Buckley. However, the Mariners responded a little later in the set and pull within three (16-13)off the serve of Megan Elphick. USJ answered right away with a quick 3-0 run to swing the momentum and held on for the 25-20 opening set win.
The second set was tightly contested early until the Blue Jays sprung off a 7-1 run in the middle of the set to jet out to an 18-10 advatange. Buckley registered a pair of kills to fuel the run. Mitchell didn't go down easily though and took advantage of some USJ miscues to rattle off a huge 10-2 run of its own and tie that set late at 20-20. A big kill by Carly Ruzbasan and a service ace by Lemek stopped the run before a kill by Molina ended the set in favor of the hosts.
It was all Blue Jays in the third and final set as they cruised to a 25-12 victory to secure the 3-0 sweep. Carrying the momentum over from the second set, USJ exploded out to a 13-1 lead to start the set and never looked back en route to the win. Four service aces by Buckley powered the third set for the Blue Jays.
Mitchell returns to action at home on Thursday, September 21 against Westfield State at 7 p.m.