WEST HAVEN, Conn. – For the second time in as many matches, the top seeded University of New Haven volleyball team needed five sets to pull off the victory, advancing to the Northeast-10 Conference Championship match for the third-straight season defeating Stonehill 3-2 (27-29, 25-18, 17-25, 25-20, 15-13) on Friday night at Charger Gymnasium.

New Haven will makes its seventh all-time appearance in the league's title match, looking to secure the second-straight and sixth overall NE10 Championship. The Chargers will battle crosstown rival No. 7 Southern Connecticut State University for the title on Saturday with first serve set for 5:00 p.m. Southern Connecticut advanced to the Championship following a five-set victory of their own, battling back from a 0-2 deficit to defeat No. 6 Saint Anselm.

Leading the Chargers in the match was senior outside hitter Caroline Martins (Tres Pontas, Brazil) who hammered 15 kills, one of three players in double figures. Joining her was NE10 Rookie of the Year Kali Greathead (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) who added 14 kills and senior middle blocker Alex Bussey (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) who chipped in 10.

Also among the leaders was sophomore outside hitter Mallory Nowicki (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview) who finished with nine kills and a .316 hitting percentage with three errors in 19 total attempts. Among all the leading hitters, Bussey led the team with a .333 attack percentage with three errors in 21 attempts. Overall as a team, the Chargers finished the match hitting at a .167 clip with a combined 57 kills.

Defensively, New Haven was led by five players in double figures with graduate student Annika Hacker (Bayreuth, Germany/Littleton (Colo.)) leading the team with 17 digs, a season-best. She also added 17 sets, while sophomore Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) led the Chargers with 28 assists.

Joining Hacker in leading the defense was Martins who closed out her third-straight and eighth overall double double with 16 digs. Rios and Greathead also combined with double figures in the digs column to complete double doubles with Rios adding 14 and Greathead 10. Rounding out the leaders was junior libero Lindsey Kim (Rye Brook, N.Y./Blind Brook) who finished with 13 digs.

As a team, New Haven combined for six total blocks led by Bussey who had four put backs and Nowicki who stuffed three Stonehill attacks.