After five sets, the Chargers’ women’s volleyball team fell short, 2-3, against the Molloy University Lions.
In the first set, New Haven took charge offensively with 12 kills, led by outside hitter Grace Juergens with five. Molloy had nine kills led by Teresa Moulder with four. The Chargers took advantage of the Lions’ attack and service errors, and put up 12 points. New Haven ended the set dominating Molloy, 25-13. In the second set, the Lions had an early eight-point spree. The Chargers fought back late with a series of kills, led by outside hitter Sofia Kamke, but were unable to make the comeback and fell short 20-25.
In the third set, the Chargers took the lead midway through the set. Kamke led the team with five kills, with opposite side Peyton Mast right behind with four. Molloy’s Roberta Monticelli led with four kills out of the 10 that the Lions secured. Following the rallies, New Haven came out on top 25-16. The Chargers and the Lions stood neck and neck in the fourth set until the Lions won 25-23. In the final set, Molloy secured the win after they broke the tie and scored the final trio of points, which put New Haven at an 11-15 deficit.
The Chargers and Lions both finished the game with 62 kills. Kamke led New Haven offensively with 23 kills and 18 digs which secured her double-double. The Chargers’ setters Tori Borton Tori and Juli De Acharan finished with 28 and 22 assists, respectively. Molloy finished the match with a striking 29 errors while New Haven had 17 of their own.
Following the loss to Molloy, on Thursday the Chargers traveled to Delaware to face the Wilmington University Wildcats. In their final non-conference game before a series of NE10 matches, New Haven swept Wilmington, 3-0.
In the first set, the Chargers had an early run after a pair of kills from Mast and a kill from Juergens. The Wildcats lacked offense and were only able to secure five kills out of eight points, led by Eliza Schneider. New Haven kept their lead as Kamke and middle blockers Katherine Rank and Amber Williams each added kills of their own. The Chargers won the first set, 25-8.
In the second set, the Chargers took an early lead as Juergens put down five kills and Mast right behind with three. In the middle of the set, Wilmington took the lead after a series of attack errors from the Chargers and kills from Schneider and Karla Nunez-Rivera. After a timeout called by New Haven, the Chargers were able to take the lead for the remainder of the game as five players contributed the final points, securing the win, 25-20. In the third set, the Chargers and Wildcats had a series of rallies before Rank had a back-to-back kill and block which put New Haven in the lead. Libero Evelyn Kay Girard kept the momentum with a service ace followed by two kills from Williams. The Chargers won the final set, 25-19.
The Chargers finished with 48 kills to the Wildcats’ 29. Wilmington tallied 19 errors while New Haven had 12 errors. Borton finished the match with 36 assists and libero Payton Malinoski led the defense with 18 digs.
After two road games, New Haven has an overall record of 8-7. The Chargers will be back in action at 5 p.m. Tuesday to face rivals, the Southern Connecticut State Owls. The match will be held in Pelz Gymnasium. For more information, visit NewHavenChargers.com.
