GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: September 30, 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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THE LEAD
Fresh of a win over in-state rival Bridgeport, the New Haven women's volleyball team will look for its fifth straight win as they continue non-conference action hosting the Molloy Lions at Charger Gymnasium Thursday. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. with all the action available live via the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW and live stats available at NewHavenChargers.com. This match will wrap up a four-game homestand to close the month of September.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
New Haven enters Thursday winners of its last four matches, most recently a four-set win over Bridgeport, the second victory over the Purple Knights this season. A trio of players have slows lead the Blue and Gold this season, led by junior outside Emily Barry's (Freeport, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) 169 kills. Just a handful of hammers behind Barry are freshman Macy Brown (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) and senior Jessica Akiona (Kapolei, Hawaii/La Pietra- Hawaii School for Girls) who have also eclipsed 150 kills this season, with 164 and 160, respectively. Those points for the Chargers has been largely off the hands of freshman setter Sophia Leon-Tabor (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers) who has tossed out 513 assists in 14 matches thus far. Defensively, sophomore liberal Rilee Jessee (Edinburgh, Ind,/Columbus East) has corralled 226 of opponent attack attempts, followed by Brown's 173 digs, and Barry's 159. Senior middle Asiya Way (Denver, Colo./Denver East) continues to lead the efforts at the tape, with 48 blocks in 2021, ahead of sophomore Emily Smith's (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay) 25.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Molloy comes into Thursdays contest looking to bounce back from a 3-1 loss to Mercy less than 24 hours prior to first serve against New Haven. The Lions offense has been led this season by Graciela Cruz with 143 kills, just ahead of Katherine Doherty with 110 as the only two players that have amassed the century-mark for kills this season. Setting them up all year has been Kassie Akouri-Tejedor who has handed out 393 assists this season. Defensively, four players have tallied more than 140 digs in 2021, highlighted by Akouri-Tejedor's 159 receptions, and Doherty's 158. At the net, Chye Davis has totaled a team-high 35 blocks this season, just ahead of Colleen Moulder's 28.
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
NEXT ON TAP
The Blue and Gold will hit the road for the first time in two weeks, heading down to New Jersey for the first of two consecutive trips to the Garden State, to take on Georgian Court. First serve from Wellness Center Arena in Lakewood is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
