Box Score

(11-20-09) OAKDALE, N.Y. - The University of New Haven women's volleyball team fell in five sets Friday night to the University of Bridgeport on the campus of Dowling College. With the loss, the Chargers season concludes with a 25-6 overall record.

After being tied at 9-9 early, New Haven would drop the opening set 25-16. Bridgeport went on a 7-0 run, after leading 11-10 to take a commanding 18-10 lead later in the set. The Chargers managed to score three unanswered points when the Purple Knights had set-point, but UB closed it out with a kill.

In the second set, each team scored five points before UNH took an 8-5 lead off a Bridgeport ball handling error. An ace by freshman Keidy Candelaria later in the set capped a 4-0 run by the Chargers, which gave them a 16-10 advantage. However, the Purple Knight would chip away at the UNH lead and eventually took a 21-20 lead. Elizabeth Akinbiyi gave New Haven a set-point when she hammered down a kill to give the Chargers a 24-23 lead. The Purple Knights tied it at 24-24, before back-to-back points gave UNH the lead.

The Chargers scored four of the first seven points in the third set, but quickly found themselves behind 8-4 after a 5-0 run by UB. The Purple Knight would not relinquish the lead in the third set and later took a 25-16 victory.

Trailing 22-18, UNH junior Sara Malmlov and Candelaria put together four kills to bring the set even at 22-22. The teams exchanged points before UNH took a 25-24 lead off a Purple Knight attack error. With set-point, Candelaria stepped onto the service line and put home an ace to force a fifth set.

In the deciding fifth set, Bridgeport jumped out to an 8-4 lead before UNH rallied and cut the lead to 8-7. The Purple Knights then scored three unanswered points to take an 11-7 lead. The teams exchanged points until UB took a 14-9 lead. A Bridgeport kill sealed the match and ended the Chargers hopes at repeating as East Region champions.

Candelaria concluded her freshman campaign with 18 kills, while Malmlov tallied 16. Chelsey Alpough handed out 43 assists and Heather Ladao led the UNH defense with 21 digs.

Malmlov and Elizabeth Akinbiyi were both named the NCAA Division II East Region All-Tournament Team for their performances in the first two rounds.

The Chargers went 15-0 in their second-straight undefeated Northeast-10 Conference schedule. New Haven claimed its second NE-10 Championship and advanced to its fourth-straight NCAA tournament.