MANCHESTER, New Hampshire. – After a dominant home stand and a strong start to conference play, The University of New Haven Women's Volleyball team traveled to New Hampshire to take on the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire University.
Being on their home court the Penmen were able to take the first set over New Haven winning and taking the early lead in the match forcing New Haven to play from behind. Settled in New Haven dominated the remainder of the match against the Penmen. The blue and gold opened up the second set winning the first three points of the set set up by a huge kill from Grace Juergens (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township). The hot start carried on for New Haven throughout slowing any responses by the Penmen. Tied late at 23-23, a service error by the Penmen gave New Haven back the serve and Rilee Jessee (Edinburgh, Ind,/Columbus East) capitalized with a service ace. A Penmen point tied things up again but New Haven won back the point and Juergens closed the set out with a kill to win the set and even the match at 1-1. In the third set after trading points back and forth, New Haven went on an 8-0 run to take a dominant lead that they never look back on going on runs throughout the set going on to win 25-15 and take a 2-1 lead in the match. In the fourth set, as the Chargers looked to come back and win the match, the Penmen had the early lead, but New Haven again went on a scoring run this time a 5-0 run to take a lead holding on to their slight lead in the set. Late in the set the Penmen traded points but the lead that New Haven had built early was deciding as the Chargers and Amihan Johnson (Tacoma, Wash./Fife High School) closed out the set and match with a kill as Johnsons first kill of the match came to win the match and finish off the Chargers come back. Macy Brown (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) led all scorers with 16 kills as Grace Juergens (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) finished with 15 kills. Michelle Henwood (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina) added 36 assists and Rilee Jessee (Edinburgh, Ind,/Columbus East) had 19 digs in the win.
With two wins in a row, New Haven looks to tie their longest win streak of the season as their road trip continues for the blue and gold as they travel to take on the Greyhounds of Assumption University. The Chargers and greyhounds tip off from Laska Gymnasium in Worcester Massachusetts on Tuesday October 3 at 7:00pm. All updates, schedules, and post-game recaps for the team will be available at Newhavenchargers.com.
