WEST HAVEN, Conn. – In their final regular season match of the season the University of New Haven Volleyball Team hosted the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's College on Senior Day and with a chance to become co-champions of the regular season and clinch the second seed in the conference tournament that begins Tuesday night.
Before the match the Chargers honored Rilee Jessee (Edinburgh, Ind,/Columbus East) for being a four year starter and in this season picked up her 1000 career dig against Post and then picked up her 100 career service ace against the Hawks of Saint Anselm College. In addition New Haven honored their two transfer seniors Michelle Henwood (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina) and Lydimar Soto De Los Santos (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico/Academia Bautista de Puerto Nuevo).
Rilee Jessee (Edinburgh, Ind,/Columbus East) opened up serving in the first set and after picking up her 100 ace the night before Jessee started right where she left off opening up with three straight aces to put the Chargers up early and put a spark in the attack for New Haven. The blue and gold never trailed in the first set after going out on a 7-0 run to open up the match. In the drivers seat all match long, New Haven closed out the set on a 5-0 run and took the first set 25-13. The second set played much closer as the Purple Knights settled into the match trading points with the Chargers. New Haven had opportunities to pull away but the Purple Knights battled and tested the Chargers. The blue and gold pulled away late going on a 5-3 run to close out the set winning it 25-19 and going up 2-0 in the match. The third set played similar to the second as the Purple Knights battled with New Haven throughout. The blue and gold pulled away in the match riding a 3-0 run with a pair of kills by Kylie Reynolds-Martin (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) and Soto De Los Santos and the Chargers never looked back closing out the set strong and dominating going on to win 25-18 and winning the match 3-0. With the win New Haven claimed their 10th NE10 regular season championship, first since 2018 and clinched the second seed in the conference tournament that begins next week. Reynolds-Martin led the blue and gold with 11 kills. Michelle Henwood (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina) added 38 assists and Rilee Jessee (Edinburgh, Ind,/Columbus East) had three aces in the match.
With the win New Haven finished the regular season with an overall record of 20-9 and 10-1 record in the NE10 earning the team under first year Head Coach Ana Pego a Conference Championship and enter the conference tournament as the two seed. The Chargers open up the tournament on Tuesday, November 14 against the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's College in a rematch. Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from Charger Gymnasium on the Charger Sport Network and NE10 Now. All updates, schedules, and post-game recaps for the team will be available at Newhavenchargers.com.
