Box Score
WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven women’s volleyball team defeated Bentley University 3-1 (25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 25-23) Wednesday night at Charger Gymnasium. With the win, the Chargers improve to 21-2 overall and 13-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference. Bentley drops to 15-13 overall and 8-5 in conference play.
The first set of the match featured a quick start from the Chargers. UNH jumped out to an 8-4 advantage and was able to sustain its lead throughout the set. Liz Akinbiyi led the offensive attack with three kills en route to a 25-17 victory. Bentley also helped New Haven by committing eight errors in the frame.
In the second game of the night, the two teams went back and forth early on. However with the score at 12-10 in UNH’s favor, Bentley suffered a stretch of five consecutive errors, granting the Chargers a 17-10 advantage. New Haven stayed focused and cruised to a 25-15 victory, taking a commanding two games to none lead. Sara Malmlov paced the offense with four kills in the set.
New Haven stumbled in the fourth set. After rallying to a one-point deficit at 7-6, the Chargers fell behind 16-10, 13-points later. The Chargers rallied once again and Tymika Duncan tied the score at 21-21 near the end of the set. Duncan again tied the score at 23-23 before the Falcons scored two points off UNH errors to claim their first set.
The fourth set played the closest of the night as the two teams exchanged points for nearly the entire set. Tied at 10-10 early, the teams played point-for-point for the next 17-points with UNH taking a one-point lead at 19-18. Two Bentley attack errors gave UNH a 21-18 lead. Three points later the Chargers held a 23-19 lead, but the Falcons would rally. Bentley scored four of the next five points to cut the UNH lead to one point at 24-23. Duncan then connected on the winning kill as the Chargers won their 13th conference match of the season.
Malmlov and Keidy Candelaria each finished with double-digit kills, while Candelaria tallied a .417 hitting percentage. Setter Chelsey Alpough added 39 assists and Heather Ladao added 16 digs to lead the team.
New Haven returns to action on Friday, November 5 with a home match against Saint Anselm College for the Chargers’ Senior Night. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at Charger Gymnasium.
