On Friday, Nov. 22, the Chargers faced the Bentley University Falcons in the Northeast-10 championship semifinal match but fell short, 1-3.
In the first set, the Chargers and Falcons rallied back and forth exchanging a series of kills. Bentley’s Sophia Poehlein and Caitlin Wunder led the Falcons with two kills each. Middle blocker Katherine Rank paved the path for the Chargers with a strong kill, followed by opposite Peyton Mast and outside hitters Grace Juergens and Sofia Kamke. Bentley pressured the Chargers’ defense with a five-point spree which included a kill from Poehlein, Wunder and two service aces, respectively.
The Falcons then committed three errors, which sparked a breakthrough for the Chargers. Mast secured a kill and New Haven’s setter Juli De Acharan added two service aces, which put the Chargers in the lead. Bentley fought back with a six-point rally led by attack errors and two kills. Poehlein closed out the set with a kill and Bentley won, 25-20.
The second set began with a strong offensive start for the Chargers. Juergens had two kills for New Haven followed by a kill from Rank and middle blocker Amber Williams, respectively. The Chargers furthered their lead as they fed off the Falcons’ errors and secured additional kills from Mast, Rank, Juergens and Williams.
Bentley was able to find a breakthrough after four consecutive errors made by New Haven. The Falcons’ Jazzy Burke secured a service ace and Poehlein added a kill for Bentley. The Chargers tallied three more errors and Wunder finished the set with a strong kill. Bentley won the set, 25-23.
In the third set, the Chargers took an early lead over the Falcons. Williams and Mast each added two kills while Juergens was right behind with a kill of her own. Following two attack errors committed by New Haven, Mast secured a trio of consecutive kills.
The Falcons found a late breakthrough with three errors made by the Chargers and kills from Rachel Vitko and Poehlein, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Chargers’ offense. After a kill from Rank, Juergens secured a pair of kills and New Haven won the set, 25-22.
In the final set, the Chargers and Falcons rallied until Bentley took the lead and didn’t look back. Juergens led the Chargers with three kills and opposite side Kaylee Weeks also secured a kill. Wunder led the Falcons offensively with a pair of kills followed by a kill from Lauren McCloskey.
Bentley fed off three errors made by New Haven and secured two service aces. The Chargers fought back with a kill from Weeks and Juergens and later secured three points off a trio of attack errors committed by the Falcons. After a service error by the Chargers, Wunder called the game with a kill and Bentley finished the match, 25-20.
After the semifinal loss to Bentley, the Chargers finished the season 19-10 overall and 8-2 in conference play. For more information, visit NewHavenChargers.com.
