GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: September 21, 2021
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LOCATION: Charger Gymnasium
West Haven, Conn. |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
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WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The New Haven women's volleyball team will open a four-game homestand Tuesday, hosting American International to kick off the conference slate of games. The Blue and Gold return to the friendly confines of Charger Gymnasium for the first time since Dec. 2019 with the 2020 season being canceled amid the CoVID-19 Pandemic. First serve between the Chargers and the Yellow Jackets is set for 7:00 p.m. with all the action live via the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW and live stats available at NewHavenChargers.com.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS (6-5, 0-0 NE10)
New Haven opened the season with three weekend tournaments, going 6-5 in 11 matches thus far. With 133 kills on the year, junior outside Emily Barry (Freeport, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) leads a group of three Charger hitters that have amassed more than 120 hammers this season. Freshman Macy Brown (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) and senior Jessica Akiona (Kapolei, Hawaii/La Pietra- Hawaii School for Girls) are the other two members of that group, with 121 and 120, respectively. All three players are in the top-five in the NE10 for kills this season, with Barry five kills behind the leader. Freshman Sophia Leon-Tabor (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers) has handled the majority of the setter responsibilities this season, dishing out 385 assists and the fifth-highest average (8.95 assists/set) in the conference.
On defense for the Blue and Gold, sophomore defensive specialist, Rilee Jessee (Edinburgh, Ind,/Columbus East) has corralled a team-high 177 assists, which is the third-highest mark in the NE10 and leads a group of three Chargers with triple-digit dig totals. Brown and Barry finished just behind her with 141 and 128 respectively. At the net, senior middle Asiya Way (Denver, Colo./Denver East) has led New Haven with 34 total blocks, which is also tied for second in the NE10.
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS (7-4, 0-0 NE10)
With three tournaments under its belt as well, AIC will also open the 2021 conference schedule Tuesday, after winning all three matches played at the Roberts Wesleyan Invitational last weekend. Leading the Yellow Jackets attack is Andrea Serra-Rosa who is the only player on her side to pass the century mark for kills, with 114, ahead of Dora Butkovic with 88. Setting up the offensive opportunities has been Naomi Eckert-Rivera who has tallied a team-best 396 assists this season.
Defensively, Amanda Rodriguez leads the team in digs with 167, with Eckert-Rivera in second with 107. At the tape, Mai-Lani Hernandez has amassed 43 total blocks already this season, nearly 30 more than the next best player for AIC.
THE 2021 SCHEDULE
After last season's cancelation due to the Pandemic, the Chargers will return to action this fall for the first time since the 2019 campaign, with a 26-match schedule that includes nine matches hosted at Charger Gymnasium. The season kicked off with three straight weekend tournaments hosted by Clarion, Post, and Roberts Wesleyan in that order.
CHARGERS PICKED FOURTH IN PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
Upon the release of the NE10's annual pre-season coaches' poll, New Haven was selected to finish fourth amongst the 14 teams in the conference, receiving 131 points.
AKIONA, LEON-TABOR EARN ALL-TOURNAMENT NODS AT WESLEYAN
Following the conclusion of the tournament, both Akiona and Leon-Tabor earned spots on all-tournament teams. Akiona finished the weekend with 45 kills, along with 19 digs and nine total blocks, earning a first-team all-tournament nod, while Leon-Tabor's 98 assists and 26 digs nabbed her a spot as a second-team all-tournament honoree.
BARRY, AKIONA NAMED TO ALL-TOURNEY TEAM IN OPENING WEEKEND
Barry Akiona were both named to the first-team all-tournament roster at the Tony Banner Memorial Tournament last weekend. Barry totaled 53 kills, 53 digs, 6 assists, and three solo blocks across the four matches, while Akiona tallied 50 kills, 12 digs, and five block assists.
BROWN NABS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK HONORS IN COLLEGIATE DEBUT
With 50 kills last weekend, including 26 in her collegiate debut freshman outside Macy Brown (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) was named Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week honors in Week one of the 2021 volleyball season. The 26 kills from Brown are the most by a player at New Haven since Sept. 24, 2011, when Keidy Candelaria matched that number against Franklin Pierce.
UP NEXT
The Blue and Gold will hit the hardwood at Charger Gymnasium for the second time this week, when they host Saint Rose Friday evening. First serve between the Chargers and the Golden Knights is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
