WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) threw down a career-high 21 kills as part of her sixth triple double of the season to lead the New Haven volleyball team (17-8) to a four set (25-17, 25-27, 25-18, 25-20) victory over the Franklin Pierce Ravens in the Northeast-10 Championship quarterfinals. New Haven advances to face second seeded American International College on Friday at AIC's Butova Gym.

HIGHLIGHTS

·         Rios' 21 kills led all players in the match while she was one of three players to finish in double figures for the Blue and Gold. Joining her was junior transfer Caroline Martins (Tres Pontas, Brazil) and senior Meghan Kennelly (Detroit, Mich./Eisenhower) who finished with 13 and 10 kills, respectively.

·         Among the leading hitters for New Haven, Rios led the way with a .333 hitting average, taking 48 total attempts and suffering just five errors. Alex Bussey (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) followed with a .214 attack percentage as she finished with nine kills and three errors in 28 attempts.

·         Rios and senior Annika Hacker (Bayreuth, Germany/Littleton (Colo.)) marshalled the New Haven offense with Hacker leading the duo with 32 assists, her first match of the season with 30 or more helpers and the first time she has finished with 30 or more since September 7, 2013 (35 vs Stonehill). Rios finished with 19 assists.

·         The setting duo helped lead New Haven to a .173 attack percentage, combining for 67 kills and 31 errors in 208 total attempts. The Blue and Gold's best hitting of the night came in the fourth set when they combined for a match-high 18 kills with seven errors in 49 attempts, leading to a .224 average.

·         Defensively, five different players racked up double figure digs for the Chargers led by Kennelly who closed out a double double with 23 digs. Finishing on her heels was freshman libero Charleigh Crews (Naples, Fla./Seacrest Country Day) who stopped 22 Ravens attacks. Rounding out the defensive leaders was Brianna Mirmina (Bethany, Conn./Amity Regional) (18 digs), Rios (16) and Hacker (14).

·         As a team, the Chargers combined for eight total blocks, led by Bussey who stuffed five different Ravens attempts. Lexis Peterson (Windsor, N.Y./Windsor Central) followed with three blocks, while Kennelly and Mallory Nowicki (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview) each chipped in with a pair.

UP NEXT
The Chargers advance to the Northeast-10 Conference Semifinals for the fifth straight season and will take on the second seeded American International Yellow Jackets on Friday evening at Butova Gym in Springfield, Mass. The Yellow Jackets earned the right to host the NE-10 semifinals and championship game after top seeded Le Moyne fell to Pace in the quarterfinal round. Times of the two semifinal contests have yet to be determined.

2016 Northeast-10 Championship
Quarterfinals - Tuesday, November 15
Match 1 :: #8 Pace 3, #1 Le Moyne 1
Match 2 :: #2 American International 3, #7 Bentley 1
Match 3 :: #3 New Haven 3, #6 Franklin Pierce 1
Match 4 :: #5 Adelphi 3, #4 Saint Anselm 1

Semifinals - Friday, November 18 - at American International
Match 5 :: #8 Pace vs. #5 Adelphi (5:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.)
Match 6 :: #2 American International vs. #3 New Haven (5:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.)

Championship - Saturday, November 19 - at American International
Match 7 :: Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6 (5:00 p.m.)