RINDGE, N.H. – The University of New Haven women's volleyball team opened its 2018 season on Friday at the Ravens First Serve Invitational hosted by Franklin Pierce University. Despite taking an early 2-0 lead in their season opener, the Chargers dropped their first match to Tampa who entered the season receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll. In the nightcap, the Blue and Gold held a 2-1 lead before dropping the final two sets against Grand Valley State.
Leading the Chargers on the day was junior Mallory Nowicki (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview) who combined for 28 total kills across the two matches while also collecting six blocks. Finishing just behind Nowicki was freshman Ruby Fera (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) who combined for 25 kills in her collegiate debut for the Blue and Gold.
Captaining the Chargers offense was senior setter Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) who gathered a team-high 59 assists while adding 17 kills and 24 digs combined over the two matches as one of two setters for the Chargers. Defensively, New Haven was led by Fera who completed a double double in both matches, finishing with 32 digs, an average of 3.56 per set.
MATCH ONE RECAP
Youth stood out for the Chargers in the opening match of the season as Fera finished with 14 kills in her collegiate debut as New Haven took an early 2-0 lead but couldn't hold on falling in five sets to Tampa.
Fera was one of two Chargers to finish in double figures as Nowicki led all Blue and Gold hitters with 15 kills coming on a .389 hitting average as she finished with just one kill in 36 total attempts. Fera also hit well in her debut, connecting on 35.1 percent of her 37 attempts, succumbing to just one error.
Rounding out the leading hitters was Rios who finished with nine kills and sophomore Camille Garden (Atlanta, Ga./Landmark Christian) who connected on a career-high eight kills. As a team, The Blue and Gold finished their season debut hitting .237 with 54 kills and 16 errors in 160 attempts.
Rios would close out her first match of the season adding a team-high 32 assists to her nine kills, while also tying for the team-high with three service aces. Joining Rios in marshaling the Chargers offense was sophomore Angela Chan (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) who compiled 16 assists.
Defensively, senior Briana Mirmina led New Haven with 15 digs, one of a trio of Chargers in double figures. She was joined by sophomore Kali Greathead (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) who finished with 14 digs and Fera who completed her first double double of the season adding a dozen defensive stops.
MATCH TWO RECAP
After falling in the opening set, New Haven battled to a 2-1 lead before dropping its second five-set decision of the day at the Ravens First serve Invitational. Leading New Haven in the nightcap was Nowicki who finished with 13 kills, one of two players in double figures.
Following Nowicki on the offensive end was Fera who completed her second double-double of the day with 11 kills partnered with a team-best 20 digs. Also among the leading hitters was Rios and freshman Sydney Strasner (Corona, Calif./Santiago) who each finished with eight kills, while Garden chipped in with seven.
Among the Chargers two setters, Rios again led the way with 27 assists, while Chan followed just behind her with 20. Both setters combined for a double double as the pair finished with 17 and 15 digs, respectively, part of six total players in double figures.
Joining Rios, Chan and Fera in double figures on the defensive end was Strasner (16 digs), Mirmina (13) and Greathead (10). New Haven also combined for 11 blocks, led by rookie Jalynn Finnie (Pearland, Texas/Dawson) who rejected six total attempts by Grand Valley State, while Garden finished just behind her with five blocks.
NEXT ON TAP
New Haven will cap off its appearance in the Ravens First Serve Invitational on Saturday with a pair of matches. The Chargers open the day at 12:00 p.m. when they take on California (Pa.) before a weekend finale against Texas A&M International at 4:00 p.m.
