Volleyball Splits Saturday to Finish Invite 2-1

The Central Connecticut women's volleyball team earned a three set victory over NJIT on Saturday night to conclude the 2014 CCSU Invitational.  The Blue Devils (4-9) finished the tournament with a 2-1 record after topping Hartford on Friday, falling to Providence on Saturday morning and sweeping NJIT on Saturday night.

Senior Rachel Dunlap was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and earned a place on the eight member All-Tournament Team.  CCSU was also represented on the All-Tournament Team by juniors Makenna Lommori and Heather Trueman.

Game 1

The Central Connecticut women's volleyball team fell to Providence on Saturday morning in Detrick Gymnasium.  The Blue Devils (3-8) and Friars (4-9) played a dramatic five set match to open the second day of the 2014 CCSU Invitational.

The Blue Devils dropped first two sets, 25-23 and 27-25, but stormed back to win the third  (25-19) and fourth games (25-18).  However Providence opened up an early lead in the fifth set and pulled away for a 15-8 victory.

CCSU was led by 18 kills and a .341 hitting percentage by freshman Nicole Celarek.

Also driving the offense were junior Heather Trueman with 16 kills and a 13 kill, .345 hitting percentage performance from senior Rachel Dunlap.

Dunlap also contributed to eight of the Blue Devils 13 blocks in the match.

Junior Makenna Lommori posted 49 assists, six kills, eight digs and five total blocks in the match.

Sophomore Brooke Schwab totaled nine kills, a .316 hitting percentage and six blocks, including a solo block.

Sophomore Cassidy Stankowski led the team with 12 digs and was followed closely by sophomore Rachel Fish with 11.

Providence was led by 18 kills from Kayla Johnson and a 29 dig performance by Michelle Cruz.

Game 2

The Blue Devils dominated the match from start to finish posting set victories of 25-10, 25-12 and 25-9.

Trueman continued her excellent play with 14 kills on 30 attacks with just one error to post a .433 hitting percentage.

Dunlap also continued her good play at the net on defense with five total blocks, including two solo.

Lommori posted 26 assists and also contributed six digs and four block assists.

Schwab was hit an extremely efficient .600 on the attack with six kills on 10 attacks.  She did not commit an attack error.  Dunlap actually topped Schwab's mark with a six-of-nine performance for a .667 clip.

As a team CCSU hit an incredible .471 in the match and committed just three attack errors.  The Blue Devils also had seven service aces and posted eight blocks as a team.

CCSU will return to action next Saturday against Bryant in the Northeast Conference opener for both squads.

All-Tournament Team
Rachel Dunlap – CCSU – MVP
Makenna Lommori – CCSU
Heather Trueman – CCSU
Jackie Tamburri - Hartford
Sareeta Nethersole – Hartford
Michelle Cruz – Providence
Annie Russian – Proidence
Valerie Carroll – NJIT