NYU vs. Washington Box Score
NYU vs. Rochester Box Score
The New York University women's volleyball team completed its first ever perfect weekend at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Round Robin #2 by upsetting top-ranked Washington University and sweeping the University of Rochester, on Sunday, October 17, on the campus of Brandeis University in Waltham, MA.
The Violets (25-3, 6-1 UAA), currently ranked #23 in the AVCA Division III Coaches Top 25 Poll, finished the round robin part of the UAA schedule with a 6-1 record for the first time since 2003, when the team reached the national championship match, to finish in a tie with #2 Emory University for the best UAA record. NYU will be the #2 seed at the UAA Championship, which will take place on November 5 and 6 at Case Western Reserve University.
“It was a huge momentum-building weekend,” said interim head coach Chris Pinto. “This is what we've been working for all year, to prove that we can compete with anyone in our conference as well as the top teams in the country.”
In the first match of the day, NYU handed the nation's top-ranked team, defending national champion Washington (23-2, 5-2 UAA), its first loss of the 2010 campaign. It was only the Violets' second win all-time over the Bears and first since 2001.
In a two-hour and five-minute come-from-behind victory, NYU prevailed 3-2 (20-25, 25-16, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12),
“The girls never stop impressing me with how hard they continue to fight,” commented Pinto. “We had nothing to lose and everything to gain in this match. The team kept the pressure on them the whole match and never backed down all the way to the last point.”
Leading the offense for the Violets was Erin McLaughlin, who recorded a career-high 20 kills. She added 14 digs for the seventh double-double of her freshman campaign, while also notching a team-high four service aces.
Kendyl Dunn added 13 kills to the offensive effort for NYU, while also putting back five blocks, including a solo.
On defense, five Violets put up double-digit digs, led by Alexis Schwartz, who recorded 21. Natalie Fernandez posted 13 and Mina Baban added 10.
Rachel Sawyer was the final Violet in double-digits on defense. She put up 11 digs while also notching four service aces, including two to open the fifth set. With the four aces, Sawyer moved into second in career service aces for NYU during the rally-scoring era with 226, surpassing Elena Drinka's total of 222.
For the Bears, Drew Hargrave recorded 15 kills and Ali Hoffman totaled 25 digs.
In the final match of the weekend, the Violets swept past the University of Rochester (11-12, 0-6 UAA), taking the match 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-20).
Dunn led the offense with her 18th double-digit kill performance of the season, putting down 10 kills and hitting .450 with four blocks, including a solo.
On defense, Schwartz once again led the way, this time putting up 13 digs for her 19th double-dig performance of 2010.
For the Yellowjackets, Kelly Mulrey tallied 13 kills and nine digs.
The Violets return to action on Friday and Saturday, October 22-23, when they travel to San Antonio, TX, to take part in the Trinity University National Invitational.
“This weekend proved how good we can be,” Pinto concluded. "And I only expect us to keep getting better as we approach the rest of the season. “
