After winning the Northeast-10 conference championship, New Haven was unable to advance in the NCAA Division II East Region tournament after losing to Mercy College in the quarterfinal round. The game ended in four sets with a score of 3-1, as the Chargers finished their 2023 season with a record of 23-10.
Mercy took the first set of the night by a score of 25-17. The set began back-and-forth, as both teams traded opening points. The first point of the night was scored by outside hitter Macy Brown with her first of 11 kills for the match. The score remained close throughout the beginning of the set, but Mercy took the lead after a 7-2 run that resulted in a 13-8 set score. After the run, New Haven called a timeout to regroup and then began to come back with kills from Brown and middle blocker Kylie Reynolds-Martin.
However, this was not enough to take the lead; Mercy jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
After losing the opening set, Reynolds-Martin put New Haven on the board with one of her 11 kills. The Chargers kept a two-point lead before increasing their lead with a 4-1 run that featured kills from opposite side Peyton Mast and outside hitter Grace Juergens. The second set ended in a victory for the Chargers, 25-20, tying the match at one.
The pressure was on for New Haven going into the third set. Mercy took a quick lead and went on a 7-2 run before the Chargers called a timeout. After the break, New Haven tied the score at seven.
Continuing to step on the gas, the Chargers took the lead in the middle of the set after kills from Brown, Reynolds-Martin and middle blocker Amihan Johnson. Mercy recovered the lead after a 5-0 run and forced yet another New Haven timeout. The damage was already done as the Chargers were unable to regain the lead, with the set ending 25-20 in favor of Mercy.
Trailing by one with Mercy just one set victory away from the semifinals, it was now or never for the Chargers going into the fourth set of the match. Reynolds-Martin put up the first point with a kill but Mercy reciprocated with two points. After going back-and-forth, New Haven stretched their lead in the middle of the set with a 4-0 run that resulted in a Mercy timeout. The timeout seemed to work for Mercy, as they went on a 5-2 run that took the lead and forced a timeout from the Chargers. Mercy closed the fourth set with a 4-0 run and ended with a 25-20 score that closed the Chargers’ 2023 season.
Leading the Chargers in kills was Juergens with 14 and setter Michelle Henwood added 44 assists in her final collegiate match. More information about the team and the program can be found at NewHavenChargers.com.