The New York University Women's Volleyball Team, currently ranked #19 in the nation by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), continued its perfect start to the 2021 season with sweeps of both opponents on Saturday, September 25.

Playing against host Stockton University and Lycoming University in Galloway, NJ, the Violets defeated the host Ospreys (4-11) 25-20, 25-12, 25-17, then the Warriors (5-8) 25-10, 25-18, 25-14.

"We played well today against regional opponents," said Head Coach Andrew Brown. "We did a good job at playing our style of volleyball. We worked hard to keep our matches to straight sets."

Against Stockton, NYU dropped the first point of the first set, but scored the next four and never trailed again. The Ospreys did use an 8-0 run to pull within 15-13. But, a kill by Haley Holz (Palatine, IL/Palatine) and consecutive service points by Lauren Robinson (Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) kept the Ospreys at bay.

In the second set, the Violets raced out to a 10-3 lead and never led by less than five the rest of the way. NYU scored the last six points of the set, clinching it with another kill from Holz.
 
NYU never trailed in the final set, with Holz again providing the match-ending kill. She led the team with 14, while Emma Willingham (Pasadena, CA/Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy) added 12.

Nicole Dao (Bethesda, MD/The Academy of Holy Cross) (20) and Dominque Drust (17) each had double-digit assists, while Lindsey Hirano (South Pasadena, CA/South Pasadena) provided a match-high 12 digs.

"We did a really good job in the match," Willingham said. "We had a high hitting percentage (NYU ended at .416) and some really low errors (only 9 the entire match). We really work well together, incorporating different hits and strategies."

In the match against Lycoming, the Violets trailed 10-9 in the opening set. Gretchen Kincade's (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Ramapo) kill pulled the Violets even and then Hirano served 15 consecutive points to win the set. That streak put NYU into the NCAA record books, as it is tied for the 13^th-longest in the rally-scoring era.

The second set was not as intriguing, as NYU scored the first three points and never trailed.

In the final set, NYU trailed by as many as four points. Still behind by one, 12-11, the Violets scored the next four points and eight of the next nine to pull away and clinch the victory.

Holz again recorded double-digit kills (10). Hirano posted 22 digs, Abby Ausmus (San Diego, CA/La Jolla Country Day School) had six blocks and Nicole Dao (Bethesda, MD/The Academy of Holy Cross) was team high with seven assists.

 "Overall, we did a good job of being consistent throughout the day," Brown added. "Everyone contributed in both matches today and were able to showcase their talents."

The Violets return to action next Sunday, October 3, when they compete at UAA Round Robin #3 at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. NYU will face host Brandeis at 10:00 am and Emory University at 2:00 pm.