PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – After opening their season on the road, it was finally time for the University of New Haven Volleyball team made their home opening debut as they hosted the I-95 Rivals, the Purple Knights of the University of Bridgeport, in a redemption game as the Purple Knights bested the Chargers last season at Bridgeport. 

The opening set looked like an instant rivalry classic as both teams traded leads and went back and forth trading rallies. The Chargers put the pressure on as they were trailing in the middle of the set but quickly went on a 5-0 rally led by Naliah Grannell (Hamden, Conn./Hamden) who had a pair of kills in the rally to take the lead for New Haven. Another 5-0 rally for the blue and gold led by Lauren MacKellar (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Northville) also with a pair of kills set up set point, before Sofia Kamke (Santa Catarina, Brazil/Escola Tecnica do Vale do Itajai) finished the opening set with a kill to win 25-21. The momentum carried over for New Haven who opened up on a 6-0 run led by Kamke serving so set the tone early. The momentum carried for New Haven who rolled in the second set as Kamke made it her set and finished it off with a kill winning 25-17 and going up 2-0 in the match. In the third New Haven kept their foot on the pedal and Amber Williams (Lilburn, Ga./Brookwood) came up with huge plays combining strength with finesse beating the Bridgeport defense to pick up five kills in the set. Bridgeport rallied late but after a timeout, Williams finished the set off with a kill to complete the sweep and win the third set 25-21 and the match 3-0. Grace Juergens (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) led all attackers with 13 kills ahead of Sofia Kamke (Santa Catarina, Brazil/Escola Tecnica do Vale do Itajai) with 10 kills. Payton Malinoski (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) played all over the court defensively and picked up 12 digs as Tori Borton (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers) dished out 22 assists.

The Chargers now return to the road as they travel to Pennsylvania to take on the Rams of Jefferson on Friday, September 20 with first tip scheduled for 6:00 pm from the Gallagher Center. All updates, schedules, and post-match recaps for the team will be available at NewHavenChargers.com.