Volleyball Drops Pair of Matches at Sacred Heart

The Central Connecticut volleyball team fell in a pair of matches at Sacred Heart in the Northeast Conference's return to play this spring on Monday in Fairfield, CT. Freshman Nyjha Marcelin led the Blue Devils in kills in both matches, while sophomore Isabelle Roufs had six blocks across both matches.

GAME INFORMATION
Match 1 Score: CCSU 0, Sacred Heart 3 (22-25, 17-25, 21-25)
Match 2 Score: CCSU 0 (16-25, 25-27, 15-25)
Records: CCSU (0-2, 0-2 NEC), SHU (3-3, 2-0 NEC)
Location: Pitt Center | Fairfield, CT

KEY MOMENTS 

• Sacred Heart won the first set in a close opening for the match. In the second set, SHU built an early 5-1 lead and never trailed. Consecutive kills by senior Samantha McCreath and freshman Nyjah Marcellin got CCSU within 9-5, but the Pioneers would extend the lead to 16-9 before eventually winning, 25-17. Central would lead 18-14 in the third frame, but SHU would score six straight as part of a 9-1 run en route to sweeping the match.
• CCSU led 7-3 in the opening set of match #2 before the Pioneers outscored the visitors 14-1 to take control of the set. The teams went back-and-forth in set two, with CCSU holding a late 22-19 lead. SHU would battle back with four straight points before scoring the final three points to win the frame. SHU raced out to a 12-3 lead in the third set and coasted to the victory to sweep the match.

NUMBER TO KNOW

1 – CCSU managed just one service ace in each match.

NOTES 

• Teams are playing  a double round-robin doubleheader format over five weeks this spring after the fall season was wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Marcelin had 10 kills and four digs in the first match, her first collegiate action. She added nine kills and two blocks in the second match.
• Junior Natalie Novak had a double-double with 19 assists and 10 digs in the first match and 19 assists, nine digs in the second.
• Sophomore Isabelle Roufs had 12 kills and six blocks combined in the matches.
• Senior Ashlyn Eisenga, the 2019 NEC Defensive Player of the Year, posted 11 and 23 digs, respectively.
• Freshman Tori Boulay had 11 and 13 assists in her first collegiate action.
• Senior Emma Henderson posted seven kills and 10 assists in match #1 and seven kills, 15 assists in the second.

UP NEXT
Central will host Merrimack on Monday, March 9, for two matches. Links to live stats and video to follow the matches are available HERE.