The New York University women's volleyball team dropped its first two matches of the 2017 season on Friday, September 1, at the Kean University Invitational in Union, NJ.
NYU fell in four sets in each match, dropping its first contest to Nebraska Wesleyan University (28-30, 25-21, 25-13, 25-21) before falling to Johnson & Wales University (23-25, 25-8, 25-19, 25-16).
In the opening match against the Prarie Wolves (1-1), the Violets led 24-20 in the first set, but gave up four straight points to force the set to go past the 25-point mark. NYU finally pulled the frame out with three straight points and won 30-28. Nebraska Wesleyan battled back, however, and won the next three sets to clinch the match.
NYU's match against JWU (2-0) was eerily similar to its first match of the day, as the Violets won a close opening set before dropping the final three.
"There are plenty of things we can build off of from today," said Head Coach
Jolie Ward. "Our group is setting goals to do just that."
NOTABLES:
-
Zel Fortson combined for 57 assists in the two matches.
-
Rayne Ellis (15) and
Caroline Rapp (9) led the Violets in kills in match one and two, respectively.
-
Daryl Mitchell recorded a team-high 16 kills vs. the Wildcats, while Fortson led the Violets in kills vs. the Prarie Wolves with 12.
-
Kate Glavan and
Lauren Ward each made their collegiate debuts for NYU on Saturday.
"I was impressed with Fortson, Glavan and
Nazzerine Waldon," added Ward. "They each had a great showing today."
The Violets return right back to action tomorrow with a pair of matches to close out the Kean University Invitational. NYU will take on Albion College at 10am and SUNY New Paltz at 2pm.
