Volleyball Takes Two Matches Saturday

The Central Connecticut volleyball team swept a pair of matches at the CCSU Invitational on Saturday in New Britain, CT. The Blue Devils defeated Saint Peter's and Columbia by 3-0 scorelines.

Isabella Bratzke and Nyjha Marcelin were chosen to represent the Blue Devils on the All-Tournament Team.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 3, Saint Peter's 0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-14)
Records: CCSU (2-3), SPU (0-5)
Location: CCSU Invitational (Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT)

KEY MOMENTS 

• The Blue Devils scored the first three points of the match and would not trail in the frame. Central would push the margin to as much as 10 points and closed out the frame on a kill by Bratzke.
• Central would score four straight points to build an early 9-4 cushion in the second set. CCSU would close the frame on a 4-1 spurt to go up 2-0 in the match.
• In the third frame, Central raced out to an 8-3 lead following a block by Mia Lombardo and Isabelle Roufs. CCSU would use a 7-1 run to take control midway through the frame and closed the match with a kill by Marcelin.

NUMBER TO KNOW

.329 - CCSU hit .329 as a team in the match, while limiting SPU to .021.

NOTES 

• Bratzke had nine kills, while Marcelin added eight to pace the Central attack.
• Natalie Novak and Tori Boulay had 19 and 18 assists, respectively.
• Rachel Picha had 13 digs to lead the defensive effort.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 3, Columbia 0 (27-25, 25-22, 25-19)
Records: CCSU (3-3), Columbia (1-2)
Location: CCSU Invitational (Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT)

KEY MOMENTS 

• The Blue Devils surged to an 8-1 lead to open the first set. Picha recorded three aces in the early going as the margin would grow as large as 13-3. Columbia would charge back with seven straight points to tie the set at 24-24 before CCSU got a block from Stela Velinova and Mia Lombardo and took advantage of an error to close out the first set.
• In a back and forth second set, CCSU would break a 20-20 deadlock with three straight points. Isabelle Roufs had a kill to open the run and would set up set point with another kill.
• In the deciding set, CCSU would take the lead from the outset after a Kill by Velinova and an ace by Bratzke to open play. The Blue Devils would push the margin to 12-5 and never allowed the Lions to threaten again.

NUMBER TO KNOW

9 - The Blue Devils had nine service aces as a team, led by four from Picha.

NOTES 

• Roufs and Marcelin each had nine kills and two blocks in the match. Roufs would add three aces.
• Boulay had 19 assists, while Novak had 11.
• Picha had nine digs along with four aces.
• Velinova had five total blocks.

UP NEXT
Central will host Manhattan on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. Links to live stats to follow the matches are available HERE.