GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: September 28, 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 returns to action for the third straight game at Charger Gymnasium Tuesday night, playing host to Bridgeport. First serve between the Chargers and Purple Knights is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Live coverage of the match will be available via the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW and live stats available at NewHavenChargers.com
LAST TIME AGAINST BRIDGEPORT
These two sides met earlier this month at the Post Eagles Tournament on Sept. 10. The Chargers earned the victory over the Purple Knights in a five-set thriller that saw New Haven bounce back from down two to one in the match, taking the decisive fifth set 19-17.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS (8-5, 2-0 NE10)
Including back-to-back wins to open Northeast-10 conference play, New Haven enters Tuesday looking for its fourth straight victory overall. With 155 kills this season, junior outside Emily Barry (Freeport, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) continues to lead the Blue and Gold's three-headed attack that also includes freshman Macy Brown (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) and senior Jessica Akiona (Kapolei, Hawaii/La Pietra- Hawaii School for Girls) with 147 and 144 hammers, respectively. Freshman setter Sophia Leon-Tabor (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers) continues to control the Charger offense, dishing out 465 assists this season, while Brown leads in points off the serve with 22 service aces. Sophomore libero Rilee Jessee (Edinburgh, Ind,/Columbus East) leads the defensive efforts for New Haven with 203 digs on the year, ahead of three other players with more than 100 receptions this season. Senior middle Asiya Way (Denver, Colo./Denver East) continues to lockdown the block for her side, amassing 44 total blocks already this season, double the next highest mark on the team.
SCOUTING THE PURPLE KNIGHTS (6-3, 1-0 ECC)
Bridgeport makes the short drive up I-95 looking to avenge their loss earlier this year and tie the season series with New Haven. Paola Hernandez leads the Purple Knights attack with 122 kills on the year, ahead of Emily Buford who stands one hammer shy of eclipsing the century mark as well. Setting them up all year long is Jaden Drollinger, who has tallied 363 assists in 2021, in addition to a team-high 23 service aces this year. Amanda Hennemann leads the Bridgeport defense with 99 digs on the season, just four ahead of Buford with 95. On the block, Amanda Keller has totaled 24, with Buford adding 18, and Madison Jongsma who has 16.
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 and 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) (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 wrap up a four-game homestand Thursday, when they host Molloy at Charger Gymnasium. First serve between the Chargers and the Lions is set for 7:00 p.m.
