Volleyball Splits Matches Friday at UConn Challenge

The Central Connecticut volleyball team split two matches on the opening day of play at the UConn Challenge in Storrs, CT, on Friday. Senior Madelyn Kaprelyan posted a triple-double against Boston College, but CCSU came up shot in a four set match. Central rallied in the second match of the day, posting a season-best attack percentage as a team in a 3-0 sweep of Iona. The Blue Devils close out play in the tournament against Connecticut on Saturday. 

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 1, Boston College 3 (14-25, 25-20, 17-25, 27-29)
Records: CCSU (1-3), Boston College (2-2)
Location: UConn Challenge (Gampel Pavilion | Storrs, CT)

KEY MOMENTS 

• Boston College took control of the first set with a 7-1 run to build an 8-3 lead. The Eagles would not allow CCSU to get closer than four points the rest of the way.
• Central outscored BC, 7-1, to break a 3-3 tie and build a 10-4 lead. The Eagles got within, 20-18, before the Blue Devils outscored BC, 5-2, the rest of the way. 
• Boston College scored seven straight points in the early going and used 11-1 run to build a lead it would hold throughout the set. CCSU would get no closer than 24-17 before falling in the frame.
• CCSU held a 20-15 lead in the fourth set, but a 7-2 run by BC tied the set at 22-22. The teams would would each fight off set point until the Eagles scored the final two points to win the set, 29-27, and take the match.

NUMBER TO KNOW

76 – CCSU had a season-high in digs and has now posted at least 48 digs as a team in six straight matches.

NOTES 

• The Blue Devils return to action against Iona at 4:00 p.m.
• Central was facing Boston College for the first time since Sept. 17, 2010.
• Senior Madelyn Kaprelyan, who ranked second nationally in triple-doubles as a junior, posted a triple-double with 10 kills, 19 assists and 13 digs. She added four blocks.
• Junior Ashlyn Eisenga had a season-high 27 digs. 
• Senior Erin McDermott finished with a double-double with 18 assists and 14 digs, while junior Samantha McCreath just missed one with 12 digs and nine kills.
• Junior Emma Henderson had a team-high 12 kills.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 1, Iona 3 (25-13, 25-20, 25-18)
Records: CCSU (2-3), Iona (0-5)
Location: UConn Challenge (Gampel Pavilion | Storrs, CT)

COACH QUOTE

"Even though we took a loss this morning we played at a good tempo and saw a lot of positive things happen on the court," said head coach Linda Sagnelli. "Against Iona, we pushed the tempo again with better results. I believe that we will continue to improve as we get more comfortable with the speed of our new offense.

KEY MOMENTS 

• Central built a 4-1 lead in the opening set and would not trail in the frame. With the set tied, 7-7, CCSU scored six straight points as part of a 9-1 streak to take control. Freshman Molly Pincince served five straight points in the set.
• The second set was tied, 4-4, before CCSU scored five straight points. The Blue Devils closed the set with five straight points, McCreath served the final four points.
• Central broke a 9-9 deadlock in the third frame with eight straight points. Pincince served seven of the points, including an ace in the run and the Blue Devils would not let Iona get closer than six points the rest of the way. 

NUMBER TO KNOW

.418 – CCSU had a season-best hitting percentage and had just seven errors in the match.

NOTES 

• The Blue Devils hit .552 as a team in the opening set and had 16 kills without an error.
• Head coach Linda Sagnelli, who has 309 wins at CCSU, won 126 games at Iona before taking over the Central program. She was named MAAC Coach of the Year in both volleyball and softball at while at Iona.
• The Blue Devils have defeated Iona in each of the last four seasons and have not lost to the Gaels since Sept. 10, 2010.
• After recording 55 digs as a team, CCSU has at least 48 digs in the last seven matches.
• McCreath posted her first double-double of the year with 13 kills and 10 digs.
• Henderson hit .520 in the match, recording 13 kills without an error. She added nine digs.
• Senior Gala Galabova, who led the league in blocks last season, recorded four blocks in the match.

UP NEXT
Central will play UConn at 2:00 p.m. Saturday to finish play in the weekend tournament. Links to live stats and video to follow the matches are available HERE.