WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven volleyball team (13-7, 8-2 NE-10) dropped its second Northeast-10 match of the season in four sets (22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 23-25) to the American International College Yellow Jackets on Tuesday night at Charger Gym. Leading the Chargers was junior middle hitter Alex Bussey (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) who finished with 12 kills and a match-best .455 hitting average.
HIGHLIGHTS
· The 12 kills for Bussey was one of two players who finished in double figures as junior Caroline Martins (Tres Pontas, Brazil) joined her in leading the team with 10 kills. Also among the leading hitters was freshman outside hitter Mallory Nowicki (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview) who chipped in nine kills, while four other players all added kills. The 10 kills for Martins is her fifth straight match in double figures.
· Bussey's .455 hitting average led all players in the match and came as she finished 22 total attempts with just two errors. Nowicki followed her in attack percentage, hitting three errors in 26 total swings for a .231 average.
· Sophomore Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) led a pair of New Haven setters with 27 assists, while senior Annika Hacker (Bayreuth, Germany/Littleton (Colo.)) added 17. The pair helped lead the Chargers to a combined .158 attack percentage with 50 total kills and 23 errors in 171 attempts.
· Defensively, New Haven was led by freshman libero Charleigh Crews (Naples, Fla./Seacrest Country Day) who collected 23 digs, her fifth match of the season with 20 or more. Crews was part of four different Chargers who collected double figure digs.
· Joining her in leading the defense was Meghan Kennelly (Detroit, Mich./Eisenhower) with 15, Rios with 14 and Hacker with 11, the latter two completing a double double for each.
· The Chargers combined for seven total blocks, led by Bussey who finished with four. Rios and Martins each added three.
· New Haven also combined for five service aces, which came from four different players, led by Hacker who finished with a pair.
UP NEXT
The Chargers continue a two-match home stand on Saturday night when they host the Bentley Falcons. First serve in the Northeast-10 match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Charger Gym.
