Box Score
(10-16-09) LOWELL, Mass. - The University of New Haven women's volleyball team defeated UMass Lowell in three sets (25-16, 26-24, 25-22) Friday night in Lowell, Mass. With the win, the Chargers improve to 17-4 overall and 8-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference, while the River Hawks fall to 13-8 overall and 6-3 in conference play.
The Chargers took a 25-16 victory in the opening set Friday, but the set played much closer through the opening points. The Charger rushed out to an early 7-2 lead, but the River Hawks cut into the UNH lead and gradually worked their way into a one-point 15-14 deficit. New Haven, however, led by the offense of Elizabeth Akinbiyi and the serving of Sara Malmlov scored eight straight points to take a 23-14 lead. The teams exchanged points as UNH eventually took the win.
In the second set, the teams nearly went point-for-point throughout the entire set. The score was tied seven times, including at 24-24. A UMass Lowell service error and attack error gave UNH the 26-24 win two points later.
In the final set, UNH took an early lead and held on as the set developed. The teams were tied at 5-5, before UNH went on a 7-1 scoring run to take a 12-6 lead. The river Hawks cut the lead to one at 16-15 and 17-16, but the Chargers continued to hold the lead and eventually seal their eighth straight NE-10 victory to open the '09 season.
As a team, the Charger hit at a .323 clip and held UMass Lowell to a .170 team hitting percentage. UNH tallied eight total blocks and 44 kills, while the River Hawks tallied just three blocks and 29 kills.
The Chargers were led by Sara Malmlov and Keidy Candelaria who both tallied 12 kills in the match. Candelaria connected on 12 of 26 attempts with three errors for a .346 hitting percentage. Malmlov added nine digs in the match.
Chelsey Alpough handed out 37 assists, grabbed eight digs and tallied five kills on nine attempts (.556 hitting percentage). Middles Tymika Duncan and Elizabeth Akinbiyi combined for 11 kills and five total blocks, while Heather Ladao led the defense with 10 digs.
New Haven returns to action on Saturday, October 17 when they host Merrimack College at Charger Gymnasium. Match time is set for 1 p.m.
