The New York University women's volleyball team opened University Athletic Association (UAA) play with competition at UAA Round Robin #1, which is being hosted by Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, on Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22.
The Violets (11-3) faced University of Chicago in their first match on Saturday, and then played Washington University in St. Louis later in the afternoon.
In the first match, NYU went up against Chicago, currently ranked #6 in the nation by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Though the Violets lost in three sets, they battled the Maroons throughout before falling 25-18, 25-19, 25-23.
Abby Ausmus (San Diego, CA/La Jolla Country Day School) had a team-high 14 kills and posted a .500 hitting percentage.
Nicole Dao (Bethesda, MD/The Academy of Holy Cross) had 15 assists, while
Haley Holz (Palatine, IL /Palatine) and
Jacqueline Kupeli (Danville, CA/Monte Vista) each contributed a team-high seven digs.
The Violets played even better in the second match, going to extra points in two of the three sets against the Bears, but finally succumbing by scores of 25-20, 27-25, 31-29.
Holz led the way this time with a match-high 18 kills. Dao (15) and
Veronica Johnson (Santa Monica, CA/Santa Monica) (13) each had double-digit assists. Kupeli led the Violets with 12 digs.
"It was great to see us compete with such talented teams in the nation," said Head Coach
Andrew Brown. "To be knocking on the door on the first day bodes well for what's to come this season."
The Violet continue play on Sunday at 10:00am when they face Case Western Reserve University.
