Volleyball Splits Two Matches on Saturday at CCSU Invitational

The Central Connecticut volleyball team split matches against Brown and Holy Cross on Saturday at the CCSU Invitational. Central fell to Brown, 3-1 (25-19, 25-20, 17-25, 25-22), in its first match of the day before rebounding with a win over Holy Cross, 3-1 (22-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-16), to close out the tournament. CCSU's record stands at 8-5 following the second day of action.

Match 1: CCSU 1, Brown 3 (25-19, 25-20, 17-25, 25-22)

Central opened the match with the first two points, before Brown came back with four straight points to take the lead for good. Central was able to get within 16-15, but the Bears closed out the set with three straight points. Brown led throughout in the second set and used a 6-1 run to break a 13-13 tie and coast to a win in the second set.

The Blue Devils bounced back in the third set to claim a 25-17 win. CCSU raced out to a 5-1 lead to claim its first set win of the match. Freshman Kaitlyn Kushman served four straight points to give Central a 22-16 lead before a kill by classmate Raquel Quirarte closed out the set.

Brown eeked out a 25-22 win in a closely-contested fourth set. The teams were tied 18-18 before Brown scored four straight points to take control of the set and win the match.

Senior Makenna Lommori recorded a double-double for CCSU with 39 assists and 15 digs. Quirarte led the Blue Devils with 12 kills and junior Erika Jones added 10. Junior Rachel Fish posted 22 digs, while sophomore Lindsey Massicotte added 15 and had three service aces. Sophomore Maddie Smith had six block assists to help CCSU post nine blocks as a team.

Payton Smith led Brown with 19 kills, while Sarah Lucenti had 31 assists. Melissa Cairo had 24 digs.

Match 2: CCSU 3, Holy Cross 1 (22-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-16)

The Blue Devils rebounded from a first set loss to rally past Holy Cross, 3-1, in the CCSU Invitational finale. The Crusaders broke a 22-22 tie with three straight points to close the set and take an early lead in the match.

Central came back in the second set to build a 6-1 lead and built its lead to 23-11 to take the set comfortably. The Blue Devils then took control of the match with a win in the third set. CCSU went ahead 4-1 early in the set and after Holy Cross closed within 24-21, a kill by Quirarte closed out the set.

After the fourth set was knotted, 11-11, the Blue Devils used a 6-1 run to gain control of the set. A kill by Jones closed out the match to give Central the win.

Quirarte finished with a match-high 20 kills to go with 19 digs. Junior Brooke Schwab chipped in with 11 kills and five block assists, as Central had 10 blocks as a team. Lommori gave out a season-high 48 assists. Four Blue Devils finished with double-digit digs as they collected 75 as a team.

Natalie Welsch finished with 11 kills for Holy Cross and Caroline Wells had 21 assists.

The Blue Devils open Northeast Conference play against LIU Brooklyn on Saturday, September 26, at 1:00 p.m. in Detrick Gymnasium. CCSU was tabbed second in the preseason NEC poll, while LIU was picked as the preseason league favorite.

CCSU Invitational All-Tournament Team

Payton Smith, Brown (MVP)
Sabrina Stillwell, Brown
Maddie Smith, CCSU
Makenna Lommori, CCSU
Mandy Sifferlen, Holy Cross
Paulina Modestow, Hartford