The No. 25 New York University women's volleyball team suffered a defeat to No. 19 Christopher Newport University before defeating No. 7 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Friday, September 4, at the Captains Classic in Newport News, VA.
The Violets opened the day with a four-set loss to the Captains (25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20), then completed action with a five-set victory over UWEC (25-27, 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 16-14).
In the opening match of the day, NYU and Christopher Newport battled through a contested opening set, trading points before the Violets erased a four-point deficit to even the score at 15-15. NYU then took a 20-19 lead, but the Captains quickly regained the advantage. The Violets fought back once more to tie the set at 21-21, but Christopher Newport scored four of the final five points to take the first set.
The Violets battled back from an early 7-4 deficit in the second set, eventually tying the score at 11-11. After Christopher Newport regained a 15-14 lead, NYU responded with a three-point run to take the advantage. The teams continued to trade points before the Violets pulled ahead 20-17 and held on to close out the set and even the match at 1-1.
Both teams battled throughout the third set, with NYU fighting back from an early 7-0 deficit, eventually using back-to-back service aces from
Grace Nelson to pull within three at 18-15. The Violets used a four-point run to even the score at 23-23, but Christopher Newport closed the set with two straight points to secure the victory.
The Violets fell behind early in the fourth set as Christopher Newport opened up a 15-9 lead. NYU made a late push, highlighted by two consecutive service aces from
Coco Barton, but the Captains closed out the set to secure the match.
In the opening set against Wisconsin-Eau Claire, NYU jumped out to a 5-2 lead highlighted by back-to-back service aces from
Alden Roberts. The Violets maintained the advantage through the middle of the set, leading 18-13 before Wisconsin-Eau Claire rallied to even the score at 20-20. The teams traded points with NYU tying the set at 25-25 before UWEC closed out the frame.
The Violets took control in the second set, building a 10-6 lead before extending their advantage to 15-9 from back-to-back kills by
Tatum Chase. NYU maintained its momentum to close out the set and even the match at 1-1.
In set three, both teams traded points early and were tied at 10-10 after back-to-back kills from Nelson. The Violets separated themselves, earning 10 of the next 13 points, pulling ahead 20-13. NYU closed out the set with a kill from Barton.
NYU trailed throughout the fourth set, with UWEC building an 8-4 lead. The Violets were unable to close the gap as the Blugolds went on to take the set.
The fifth set was tight from the start, with the teams trading points before NYU pulled ahead at 8-6. UWEC then took a 13-10 lead before
Casey Cho delivered back-to-back kills followed by back-to-back blocks to put NYU back in front, 14-13. The Violets never surrendered the lead, securing the match victory three points later.
Over the two matches, Nelson led the Violets with 25 kills, while Cho added 14.
Lucianna Welles had 13.
Kate Scherlacher launched 44 assists across both games, while Roberts added 14.
Lily Leung accumulated a team-high 44 digs over the two matches. Scherlacher and
Sarah Beville posted 21 and 16 digs, respectively.
"We started to learn our identity towards the end of the Christopher Newport match, we just ran out of time," said Head Coach
Andrew Brown. "We were able to carry that momentum into our second match, knowing that Wisconsin-Eau Claire was going to be a tough opponent."
The Violets take the court next tomorrow, Saturday, September 5, in Newport News, VA, facing No. 12 Juniata College at 11:30 AM.
