Volleyball Earns Split on First Day of Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic

The Central Connecticut volleyball team opened play at the Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic with a 3-1 win over Cornell on Friday. The Blue Devils fell to host, St. John's, 3-0 in their second match of the day. Central will return to action with two matches on Saturday.

CCSU 3, Cornell 1 (22-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-19)

The Blue Devils rebounded from dropping the first set to win the next three sets and claim a victory over Cornell in their opening match of the tournament. Senior Makenna Lommori totaled 36 assists and a team-high 18 digs, while adding eight block assists. Freshman Raquel Quirarte led Central with 20 kills and narrowly missed a double-double by adding nine digs.

The Big Red took the opening set after limiting the Blue Devils to a -.033 hitting percentage. Cornell used a run of five straight points to take a 19-16 lead and were able to hang on to claim the first set.

Central rebounded with strong defense in the next two sets limiting Cornell to hitting percentages of .071 and .000, respectively. In the second set, CCSU used a 9-2 run midway through the set to take a commanding 20-17 lead on its way to winning the set.

In the fourth set, Central battled back from a 22-16 deficit to earn claim the set. CCSU closed the set out with a 10-2 run to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Blue Devils took the lead from the start in the final set and built a lead as much as 10-2. Cornell rallied to get within 18-16, but Central was able to close out the set and win the match.

Emily Wemhoff had 13 kills to lead Cornell, but the Big Red were limited to a .096 hitting percentage. Alyssa Phelps had 37 assists.

Sophomore Maddie Smith had nine block assists to lead the Blue Devils' defense. Junior Nicole Dean added a block solo and eight block assists and junior Rachel Fish added 14 digs.

St. John's 3, CCSU 0 (25-18, 25-10, 25-20)

Central fell to the tournament host, St. John's, 3-0 in its second match of the day. The Red Storm hit .358 as a team and defeated the Blue Devils in straight sets.

CCSU scored the first two points of the opening set and were tied with SJU, 9-9 before a run of seven unanswered points gave the Red Storm control of the first set.

St. John's continued its strong play in the second set, scoring the first six points and built an 8-1 lead. The Red Storm hit .448 as a team in the second set. CCSU got back within, 16-13, before SJU stopped the rally to close out the set and win the match.

Junior Brooke Schwab led the Blue Devils with nine kills and added two block assists. Lommori tallied 28 assists and sophomore Lindsey Massicotte collected 11 digs.

Karin Palgutova led the Red Storm with 13 kills and 15 digs. She also added four block assists.

Central rebounded in the third set and got off to a strong start. The Blue Devils led, 9-8, before a run of seven straight points gave the Red Storm the advantage.

Central continues play with matches against San Francisco at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Blue Devils will also face George Mason on the second day of the tournament.