GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Playing the first match of the NCAA Division II East Region quarterfinals, the New Haven women's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to Mercy, seeing its season come to a close. With the loss, New Haven concludes the year with a 23-10 record after earning the programs seventh Northeast-10 Conference Championship.

Leading the Chargers in the match was freshman outside hitter Grace Juergens (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) who finished with 14 kills, one of three players to rack up double figures offensively. Juergens 14 kills came on 39 attempts with a .205 attack percentage. Joining her in leading the offense was sophomore middle Kylie Reynolds-Martin (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) and junior outside hitter Macy Brown (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) who each finished with 11 kills.

Sophomore middle hitter Amihan Johnson (Tacoma, Wash./Fife High School) finished one kill shy of double figures with nine kills total, those coming on 13 attempts for a team-best .615 attack percentage. Rounding out the primary hitters was freshman Peyton Mast (Park Hills, Ky./Notre Dame Academy) who finished with a half dozen kills.

Calling the shots for the Chargers offense was senior transfer setter Michelle Henwood (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina) who racked up 44 assists in her final collegiate match as she joins senior libero Rilee Jessee (Edinburgh, Ind,/Columbus East) who conclude their collegiate careers in the early afternoon match. Jessee led New Haven's defensive efforts with 14 digs, joined by two others in double figures as Henwood added 13 and Brown finished with 11, the latter two completing double doubles.

With the loss of just Henwood and Jessee following the Chargers conference championship run, New Haven has much to look forward to in 2024 with the return of the reining NE10 Player of the Year in Brown as well as Juergens and Mast who each earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team. Overall, first year head coach Ana Pego will welcome back 93% of the teams scoring in 2024.