From NYU Athletics
The New York University women's volleyball team split its final two matches at the Kean University Cougar Classic on Saturday, September 9, in Union, NJ.
After splitting its two matches on Friday, the Violets (3-6) repeated that performance on Saturday. After defeating Hood College (0-8) in five sets (25-7, 25-18, 26-28, 20-25, 15-9), NYU fell to the University of Scranton (9-0) in four sets (25-13, 25-20, 25-27, 25-19).
The Violets took the first two sets from Hood, setting the tone with a 25-7 first-set victory. The Blaze battled back, however, to take sets three and four and tie the match at two apiece. NYU re-gained its composure and dominated the fifth set, scoring the first five points and leading by as many as seven before closing the set 15-9.
NYU was unable to ride its momentum into its next match against Scranton as the Lady Royals took the first two sets in decisive fashion.
The Violets trailed 5-1 in the third set, but fought back to tie the frame at 6-6 and eventually took a 10-7 lead. NYU increased its lead to seven at 21-14, before the Lady Royals went on an 8-0 run to take a 22-21 advantage. The Lady Royals built their advantage to 25-24 and had a match-point, but NYU was able to get three straight points and eventually won the set on a block from Caroline Rapp and Rayne Ellis.
Scranton jumped out to an early lead in the fourth set and lead wire-to-wire, eventually pulling out the set 25-19 and the match 3-1.
HIGHLIGHTS vs. HOOD:
- Katie Goyette dished out a match-best 37 assists.
- Nazzerine Waldon and Daryl Mitchell each finished with a match-high 21 digs.
- Dating back to last season, this was the Violets' third-straight victory in five-set matches.
HIGHLIGHTS vs. SCRANTON:
- Mitchell dished out a team-best 35 assists to go along with 17 more digs.
- Kelsey Kraetz recorded a match-best and career-high six blocks.
- Rayne Ellis served up four aces, which was also a match-high. The senior was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts over the two-day, four-match event.