WALTHAM, MA. – The Daemen University women's volleyball team used a 9-3 run in the fifth set to comeback and defeat New Haven University, 3-2 (25-21, 18-25, 25-21, 23-25, 15-12), in the first of three games at the Sandy Hoffman Memorial Tournament.
The Wildcats improved their record to 3-2 while the Chargers fell to 1-4 in the second regular season tournament for each team.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• After exchanging the first two sets, Daemen came out of the gate hot in the third set, scoring seven of the first nine points of the frame and forcing a New Haven timeout. Even with a rally in the middle of the frame from the Chargers which cut the Wildcats lead to just one, Daemen was unfazed, taking the frame, 25-21, and a 2-1 match lead. The Wildcats offense excelled in the third stanza as they posted a season-best .417 (18-3-36) hitting percentage.
• New Haven was able to force a fifth set, using an 8-4 run to close the frame and stay alive, 25-23.
• In the final set, New Haven raced out to an early 7-3 lead, forcing a Wildcats timeout. Out of the break, the Wildcats erupted for a 9-3 spurt and never looked back, winning the set, 15-12, and match, 3-2.
IMPACT PLAYERS
• Graduate student
Abby Ryan (Orchard Park, N.Y.) paced the Wildcats with a career-high 26 kills to pair with 13 digs for a double-double. Junior
Nahirka Malpica (Caguas, P.R.) notched her own double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs.
• Graduate student
Giselle Giraud and senior
Amelia Armstrong added in 14 and 12 kills respectively to help pace the Daemen offense
• Senior
Avery Dole provided 32 assists with sophomore
Molly Ryan adding in a season-high 22 of her own in the winning effort.
• At the net,
Abby Ryan and sophomore
Kate Trueblood provided four total blocks with one block solo and three block assists each
• Grace Juergens led New Haven with 19 kills while Sofia Kamke totaled a 12 kill, 16 dig double-double.
MATCH NOTES
• Today served as the sixth meeting between the two sides with each side winning three times. Daemen has won the last two meetings.
• The Wildcats now 2-0 and 4-2 since last season in five set matches
• As a team, the Wildcats produced a season-high 69 kills against the Chargers. Their 69 kills are the most since they also had 69 against Molloy University last year on Sept. 24, 2023.
UP NEXT
Daemen closes out the Sandy Hoffman Memorial Tournament with matches against hosts Bentley University and AIC tomorrow with opening serve set for 1 and 3:30 p.m. respectively.
Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
Follow the Daemen women's volleyball program on Twitter and Instagram at @DaemenWVB.
