Volleyball Succumbs to Sacred Heart in Three Sets

The Central Connecticut volleyball team rfell at Sacred Heart, 3-0, in Northeast Conference action on Friday at Fairfield, CT. The Blue Devils and Pioneers were meeting for the second time this season after CCSU won in five sets on Sept. 30.

GAME INFORMATION
Score:  Sacred Heart 3, CCSU 0 (25-19, 29-27, 25-21)
Records: CCSU (10-10, 4-4 NEC), SHU (15-8, 7-1 NEC)
Location: Pitt Center | Fairfield, CT

KEY MOMENTS 

• Sacred Heart built an 8-3 lead in the opening set, leading to a CCSU timeout. Central would rally to draw even at 13-13 following a kill by Lauren Milani and an SHU error. The Pioneers would score three in a row to break the deadlock and would not trail in the set, closing the frame with three consecutive points.
• In the second set, CCSU trailed 14-8, but called timeout and promptly took the momentum with a run of six points to tie the frame. The Blue Devils would take their first lead of the night at 19-18 to cap a string of four straight points. The Pioneers had set point at 24-22 but blocks by Isabella Bratzke, Weronika Poczynek and Nyjha Marcelin on back-to-back rallies extended the set before SHU finally won the set.
• SHU led throughout in the third set, but CCSU would get within 9-8 after a kill by Isabelle Roufs capped a string of four straight points. The Pioneers would end the CCSU streak on the following rally and did not surrender the lead to Central before closing out the match.

NUMBER TO KNOW

20 - Central compiled 20 block assists as a team, its second-highest total of the season.

NOTES 

• The teams split the regular-season series after CCSU won the meeting back on Sept. 30. 
• Poczynek led CCSU with 10 kills and added seven digs.
• Bratzke had a career-best seven blocks in the match. She has totaled 13 blocks in the past two matches.
• Natalie Novak had 15 assists and Tori Boulay had 14, while they each had six digs.
• The match was a meeting of the top two teams by hitting percentage in NEC play. CCSU was limited to .079 hitting, while SHU hit .172.

UP NEXT
CCSU returns to action on Friday, Oct. 28, at St. Francis Brooklyn.

Links to live stats and video to follow the matches are available HERE.