WATERBURY, Conn. -- Looking for their first win of the 2023 campaign, the Post University Women's Volleyball team battled against University of Bridgeport and Franklin Pierce University in their first two games out of four total games they will play in the Post Eagles Invitational.

However, the Eagles would run into a pair of tough matchups against the Purple Knights in which they dropped the match in three sets, 26-24, 25-14, and 25-15. In their second match against the Ravens, it would be another sweep for the road team as Post dropped their fifth consecutive match to start the season in straight sets, 25-15, 25-22, and 25-14. 
 

THE BASICS

Post University 0, University of Bridgeport 3

Post University 0, Franklin Pierce University 3

Post University (0-5)

University of Bridgeport (4-1)

Franklin Pierce University (3-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Post University 0, University of Bridgeport 3
A strong start in the match saw Post go up 3-0 in set one and lead by as many as four points, 7-3, before Bridgeport slowly worked their way back into the set in which they would eventually knot it up at 11 all following a bad set from senior setter Izabella Rae. That would be the first of four ties through the middle part of the set before the Purple Knights went up by two points, their largest lead of the set, 17-15. But three attack errors and two bad sets by Bridgeport seemed to put the Eagles in control of the set after a 6-0 run saw them within four points of a first set victory, 21-17.

Momentum would swing back in favor of the Purple Knights who rattled off nine of the next 12 points, including three straight with their backs against the wall, 24-23, to steal away the first set. That comeback would be the spark for the second set as Bridgeport capitalized on a couple of Eagles' errors to jump ahead by four, 5-1. The closest Post would get in the frame was within two, 8-6, before the Purple Knights used a 9-1 spurt while leading 14-11, which helped them safely pull away in set two for the 25-14 win. 

In a third set of runs, both sides would rattle off a 5-0 run each before once again Bridgeport used a blitzing 7-1 run with the help of four Eagles' miscues to wrangle control of the set, 12-6. A brief 3-0 run would be all Post would manufacture and three points would be the closest deficit as errors continued to haunt the Eagles and lead to an 8-1 run by the Purple Knights and the eventual 25-15 set three win to earn a 3-0 sweep. 

Post University 0, Franklin Pierce University 3 

After trailing 7-3 in the early going of set one, three errors by the Ravens helped spur a 5-0 run for the Eagles, giving them their first lead of the match, 8-7. Following a service ace by junior outside hitter Kaila Sandy, Post pulled even at 12 all, but a 6-0 run for the Ravens would be the difference maker in the set, propelling them to a 25-15 win.

Unphased by the opening set, the Eagles came back wit ha 4-1 start largely in part to a pair of service aces by Rae and a service error by graduate outside hitter Tessa Brandt before the Ravens regrouped for five straight points led by two kills from senior outside hitter Madelynn Boop and used that momentum to rally in front and of the Eagles, 20-14, looking primed for a second set win. But a 5-0 run led by sophomore defensive setter Lynnise Castillo's two service aces and kills from Sandy and junior outside hitter Caley Harper brought Post back within one, 20-19. Eventually the Eagles would tie the match at 21, but four of the next five points would go the way of the Ravens to give them the second set of the match.

Down 10-9 in the third set, an 8-0 run by the Ravens would give them the cushion they needed to complete the sweep in their second game of the day as they took the third set from Post, 25-14. 


BY THE NUMBERS

• Junior setter Colleen Romero finished the day with 13 total kills between the two matches, leading the way for the Eagles
• Sophomore libero Alyssa Groves notched 30 digs across the two matches and six sets she appeared in 
• Junior Hannah Brandt had another impressive attack percentage for the afternoon, attacking at .391 with 10 kills 
• This is the first time since 2021 in which Post has lost 12 consecutive sets (10/29/21 - 11/6/21)

WHO'S NEXT
Playing two more matches tomorrow to close out the Post Eagles Invitational, the Eagles will take on St. Anslem at 12:30 PM and then Southern Connecticut State University at 8:00 PM in the Drubner Center. This will be the first time Post has faced St. Anslem while they are 6-14 all-time against the Owls, but snapped a six-game losing streak against them last year with a 3-1 victory on the road.