WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The Post University volleyball team split it two matches on day one of the Charger Invitational hosted by New Haven on Friday. The Eagles dropped a close battle with New Haven 3-2 and defeated Daemen 3-0 in the nightcap.
New Haven 3, Post 2 (25-13, 21-25, 17-25, 26-24, 13-15)Post jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first set helped by two kills by junior
Nicole Brown (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and two aces by junior
Skylar German (Kansas City, Mo.). The Chargers never got closer than five the rest of the way. Freshman
Brianna Root (Bristol, Conn.) had three aces as Post scored the final seven points of the first set.
New Haven went on an 8-3 run in set two to take a 13-10 advantage and never looked back. The Chargers used another run in the third set to pull in front in the match 2-1.
With the score tied 10-10 in the fourth set, Post staged a 6-0 run to take the largest lead either team would have in the set. New Haven slowly chipped away and tied the set 20-20. The teams alternated points until a kill by German and error by the Chargers gave the Eagles a 26-24 victory.
The close play continued into the final set as the teams traded kills until a 4-0 run gave New Haven a 10-6 advantage. Senior
Hailey Griffin (Plainfield, Conn.) smashed a kill late to pull the Eagles within one at 13-12, but the Chargers closed out the match.
German finished with 17 kills and six block assists. Senior
Janiellee Alvarez (Norwich, Conn.) had 25 of Post's season-high 99 digs. Root added 44 assists and 14 digs.
Post 3, Daemen 0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-23)Post fell behind 8-4 in the opening set, but bounced back to score eight straight points. German had three of her team-high 12 kills during the run. The Eagles led 24-21 but the Wildcats tied the score 24-24 before the Eagles won the final two points.
The Eagles used another 8-0 to grab control of the second set.
Morgan Griffin launched a kill to tie the score 19-19 as Post scored four straight to force a Daemen timeout. Out of the break the Eagles continued to roll with four more points. Alvarez recorded an ace during the run.
Daemen once again led early in the final set and held a 10-5 lead. Post climbed back into the game tied the score 15-15. The Eagles took the lead at 17-16 and never looked back. They led by as many as four down the stretch.
Post is back in action for day two of the tournament tomorrow. The Eagles play Queens at noon and Assumption at 2 p.m.
