GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: September 10-11, 2021
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LOCATION: Waldo Tippin Gymnasium
Waterbury, Conn. |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS (all matches)
LIVE VIDEO (vs Bridgeport)
LIVE VIDEO (vs Bentley)
LIVE VIDEO (vs Post) |
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WATERBURY, Conn. – The New Haven women's volleyball team will hit the road for its second tournament of the season this weekend, playing three matches at the Eagles Invitational hosted by Post University. The Chargers kick off tournament action Friday at 12:00 p.m. to take on East Coast Conference rival Bridgeport, and return to the court later that evening for a non-conference match with Bentley at 5:00 p.m.
The Blue and Gold round out the invitational in the nightcap, taking on the host Eagles at 7:00 p.m. Coverage of the tournament is available at PostEagles.com, and at NewHavenChargers.com at the conclusion of each match.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
New Haven opened the 2021 campaign last weekend, going 1-3 at the Tony Banner Memorial Tournament hosted by Clarion University. The Chargers offense includes trio of players that have already amassed 50 kills this season, led by junior outside Emily Barry (Freeport, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) with 53, just ahead of right-side Jessica Akiona (Kapolei, Hawaii/La Pietra- Hawaii School for Girls) and freshman outside Macy Brown (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) who hammered 50 kills apiece. Freshman setter Sophia Leon-Tabor (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers) logged her first collegiate minutes this weekend, starting in all 17 sets and dishing out 172 assists (10.1/set).
On the defensive end, sophomore Rilee Jessee (Edinburgh, Ind,/Columbus East) topped the stat sheet in the digs column, collecting 81, with Brown following with the second highest mark with 57. Senior transfer Asiya Way (Denver, Colo./Denver East) played her first matches in the Blue and Gold this weekend leading her side at the net with 18 total blocks.
SCOUTING THE PURPLE KNIGHTS
With two matches already in the books Bridgeport enters the tournament this weekend 1-1, beating Assumption 3-1 in the opener of a tri-match, before falling to Holy Family in the final game. Paola Hernandez leads the Purple Knights attack with 33 kills thus far, two ahead of Melanie Smith with 31. Jaden Drollinger dished out 89 assists across the pair of matches last week, while defensively, Hernandez has collected a team-high 26 digs, followed by Amanda Hennemann with 24.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Bentley opened the 2021 season last weekend at the Oklahoma Christian Tournament, going 0-4 against three Lone Star Conference opponents. Ellie Wheeler started all 14 sets for the Falcons last weekend, slamming 54 kills to lead her team. Amanda Parker was tasked with the setting responsibilities last weekend, dishing out 151 assists across the four matches. Jazzy Burks leads the defensive side with an even 60 digs, along three players who lead the Falcons with 4 blocks.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Post is 2-3 is 2021, starting the year 1-3 at the Saint Anselm/SNHU tournament in New Hampshire, before taking down Saint Rose 3-1 on Tuesday. Aniya Goodman leads the Eagles attack with 35 kills, four ahead of second-best Kaitlyn Sharkey with 31. Colleen Romero has directed the Post offense in each of the opening five games this year, tallying 107 assists. Nelly Diaz leads the defense with 95 digs, with Goodman leading in Blocks with 11.
BARRY, AKIONA NAMED TO ALL-TOURNEY TEAM IN OPENING WEEKEND
Junior outside Emily Barry (Freeport, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) and junior outside Jessica Akiona (Kapolei, Hawaii/La Pietra- Hawaii School for Girls) were both named to the all-tournament team 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 EARNS 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) 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 September 24, 2011 when Keidy Candelaria matched that number against Franklin Pierce.
UP NEXT
Following the Post Eagles Invitational this weekend, the Blue and Gold will travel to its third and final tournament to open the season, heading to the Roberts Wesleyan College Tournament for four matches across two days. The team kicks off competition Friday, Sept. 17 at 2:00 p.m. against Daeman, before taking on Roberts Wesleyan at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 New Haven opens the day at 11:00 a.m. to take on Stonehill in a non-conference match, before wrapping up the weekend at 1:15 p.m. against D'Youville. Coverage of this tournament will be available at RobertsRedhawks.com, and at NewHavenChargers.com at the conclusion of the match.
