Box Score

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - The University of New Haven women's volleyball team open its 2010 Northeast-10 Conference schedule Thursday night with a 3-1 (25-18, 25-23, 22-25, 25-14) victory over Pace University. The Chargers improve to 8-1 overall and 1-0 in the NE-10, while the Setters fall to 6-5 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

The Setters scored three of the matches first four points, but the Chargers rallied and scored nine of the next 15 points to take a 10-7 lead. UNH would improve upon its lead, going ahead by as many as eight points, 22-14 and 23-15. Sara Malmlov (Lindesberg, Sweden/Sheridan College) smashed a pair of kills at the end of the set to give UNH a seven-point victory.

The Setters went into the second set and took an early lead, 7-3. Sparked by another Malmlov kill, the Chargers started a rally and eventually tied the score at 9-9. The Chargers then scored three unanswered points to take a 12-9 lead. Pace would rally later in the set, evening the score once again at 20-20. New Haven would eventually get the second-set win with a kill by junior Elizabeth Akinbiyi (Miami Gardens, Fla./Chaminade-Madonna Prep.).

The two teams exchanged the lead a number of times throughout the third set before playing to another 20-20 tie late in the set. Pace then scored five of the next seven points and took the set.

With a 2-1 lead in the match, the Chargers cruised to an early lead in the final set. Another Malmlov kill in the opening part of the set gave the Chargers a 12-5 lead. Later in the set she added another to give UNH a 10-point lead, 18-8. The Chargers continued to lead until they sealed the victory on a Setters error.

Malmlov lead the Chargers in the match with a season-high 21 kills. She also registered a .236 hitting percentage and 18 digs. Janeeka Benson (Syracuse, N.Y./Virginia State Univ. ) was second on the team with 12 kills, while Akinbiyi added eight kills and a team-high .316 hitting percentage. Junior setter Chelsey Alpough (Torrance, Calif./South / Western New Mexico Univ. ) dished out 41 assists and grabbed nine digs. Libero Heather Ladao (West Covina, Calif./Rowland ) led the Chargers defense with a 20 digs.

The Chargers will return to action when they host the College of Saint Rose on Saturday, September 25 at Charger Gymnasium. Match time is scheduled for 1 p.m.