WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven volleyball team hit over 50 percent without an error in the deciding set, earning the Chargers fifth-straight victory (25-23, 19-25, 25-21, 19-25, 15-6) in thrilling fashion over the Bridgeport Purple Knights (3-6 overall). Leading the Chargers (6-3 overall) was senior outside hitter Kristen Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) who finished with a team-high 13 kills and tied for the team high with 14 digs.
Joining Lee in leading the Chargers offense was junior outside hitter Meghan Kennelly (Detroit, Mich./Eisenhower) and senior utility Damianis Eusebio (Miramar, Fla./University School) who finished with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Among the three leading hitters, Eusebio led the way with a .240 hitting percentage with four errors in 25 attempts. Leading all Chargers hitters was graduate student Micki Impellizeri (Seaford, N.Y./St. Anthony's), a middle blocker, who finished with five kills and one error in seven swings for a .571 average.
Defensively, Lee's 14 kills tied libero Devin Smith (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush), while Kennelly and freshman setter Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) added 13 and 12 digs, respectively. Smith also led New Haven with three of the Chargers' seven total service aces. On the block, the Chargers were led by sophomore middle hitter Alex Bussey (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) who finished with six total blocks, including a pair of solo deflections. Eusebio and Impellizeri also finished with two solo blocks apiece. Rios led the Chargers with 39 assists, while adding four kills and three blocks to her 12 digs.
The five-set victory for New Haven is the fifth total match of the year that has gone to a deciding set with the Chargers taking all five. It is also the fourth five-set win in the last five matches.
FIRST SET NOTES
· Neither team could pull away in the opening set with the squads combing for 13 ties before the Chargers pulled away scoring the final three points of the set including a dump kill from freshman setter Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef).
· Three different Chargers finished without a hitting error with senior Kristen Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) leading the team with three kills in eight attempts for a .375 average. Freshman setter Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) and sophomore middle hitter Alex Bussey (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) each finished with two kills, with Bussey's coming in two attempts for a perfect hitting average for the set.
· The Chargers finished the opening set with four total blocks with Bussey leading the team with three total.
SECOND SET NOTES
· Sophomore middle hitter Lexis Peterson (Windsor, N.Y./Windsor Central) finished as one of three Chargers leading the way in the second set with three kills. Two of her three kills provided lead changes in favor of New Haven. She would close out the second match with one error in four attempts for a .500 hitting average.
· Joining Peterson in leading the team with three kills was Kristen Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) and Damianis Eusebio (Miramar, Fla./University School). Lee also led the team's defensive efforts, stopping four of the Bridgeport scoring attempts.
THIRD SET NOTES
· The Chargers opened up the third set with three straight kills, all from different players. New Haven expanded that lead to a 12-6 advantage thanks to a kills from Damianis Eusebio (Miramar, Fla./University School), who also had one in the opening trio.
· The Chargers would also close out the match scoring six of the final nine points including a put down from Kristen Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) thanks to an assist from libero Devin Smith (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush). Lee was joined by Meghan Kennelly (Detroit, Mich./Eisenhower) in leading the Chargers with four kills.
· As a team, the Chargers finished the third set hitting .255 with 17 total kills in 51 attempts. Freshman setter Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) marshalled the offense earning 12 assists, her highest in a single set against Bridgeport.
FOURTH SET NOTES
· A service ace from freshman Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) highlighted a rally that spanned four points and tied the set at 17. Meghan Kennelly (Detroit, Mich./Eisenhower) began that rally with a kills thanks to a set from Rios.
· Kennelly led the Chargers hitting in the third set as she finished as one of three players with two kills, with her two points coming without a hitting error in six total attempts. She was also perfect in receptions off the Bridgeport serves, finishing with 10 total and a perfect 1.000 percent average.
FIFTH SET NOTES
· The Chargers set the tone right out of the gates, scoring the first two points on a kills from Damianis Eusebio (Miramar, Fla./University School) and an ace from libero Devin Smith (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush). The Chargers would never look back from that early lead, never even allowing the Purple Knights to tie the score.
· New Haven took control of the set thanks to a five-point rally that included kills from Kristen Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) and Micki Impellizeri (Seaford, N.Y./St. Anthony's) as well as an ace from freshman Lindsey Kim (Rye Brook, N.Y./Blind Brook).
· The Chargers closed out the set winning the final four points with Eusebio sparking that final rally with a kills off a set from Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef). Devin Smith (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush) also had an ace in that final rally, with that setting up match point.
· New Haven finished the deciding set hitting .583 thanks to seven kills and no errors in 12 attempts.
· Leading the way individually was Eusebio and Impellizeri who each finished with two kills in three attempts for a .667 hitting average.
UP NEXT
The Chargers return to the court for their final in-season tournament of the year, the American International Yellow Jacket Invitational. New Haven will open the two-day event on Friday at 5:30 p.m. when they face Pace. The Chargers will also have match-ups against Dowling, Angelo State and Ohio Valley.
