WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The New Haven women's volleyball team closed the month of October with its eighth win in Northeast-10 Conference play taking down Saint Michael's in straight sets Saturday night. With the win the Blue and Gold improve to 18-6 overall and remain atop the NE10 standings at 8-1 with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

The two sides went back and forth to open the contest, with the Purple Knights trailing by one, before the Chargers rallied to score 17 of the final 21 points to take set one 25-11. New Haven turned on the jets in the second frame opening with a 10-1 run, putting the set out of reach early and taking a 25-10 victory. The same early attack came once again in the third with the Chargers scoring the first nine points, taking an impressive 25-7 win.

New Haven's offense slammed 43 kills in the match on 96 attempts, while committing just six errors for a .385 attacking percentage, with assists coming on all but two of those hammers. Senior right-side Jessica Akiona (Kapolei, Hawaii/La Pietra- Hawaii School for Girls) paced the hitting department with 15 kills off a .583 percentage on the attack, followed by freshman Macy Brown (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) who powered home 11.

Freshman setter Sophia Leon-Tabor (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers) tallied 34 assists on the night, and junior outside Emily Barry (Freeport, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) matched sophomore libero Rilee Jessee (Edinburgh, Ind,/Columbus East) for the team-high in service aces with four apiece. On the defensive end, Barry corralled 13 digs to lead all players in the match, followed by Brown with 11, while at the net senior middle Jalynn Finnie (Pearland, Texas/Dawson) collected three total blocks including a pair of solo rejections on the night.

The Blue and Gold return to action Thursday night, closing a three-game homestand with a match against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State. First serve in the 2021 edition of the Elm City Rivalry is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from Charger Gymnasium.