NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Assumption University dropped two tight matches in their season-opening tri-match against Mercy College and Southern Connecticut State University Friday evening.
THE BASICS
Score: Mercy College 3, Assumption 1 | SCSU 3, Assumption 1
Records: Greyhounds (0-2, 0-0 NE10) | Mavericks (2-0, 0-0 EC) | Owls (1-1, 0-0 NE10)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Match One –Mercy College 3, Assumption University 1
Mercy jumped to an early start, as they ran out to a 4-0 lead before seeing it expand to 7-2. The Mavericks kept a three to five-point lead for most of the set. Assumption made a late push as they got within one multiple times, but Mercy would hold off the Greyhound push, as they took the first set 25-23.
In the second set, the two teams traded points, but it wasn't until the score was 18-17 Mavericks that Assumption rattled off seven straight points to go up 24-18 and eventually won the second set 25-19. The third set was neck-to-neck the entire set, as neither side would gain more than a three-point lead at any part of the go-ahead set. Mercy claimed the third set 25-23.
The Mavericks controlled the fourth set early on, as they raced out to 6-1 and an 11-4 advantage. Assumption would not go quietly as they clawed their way back to take a 19-18 lead, but that was short-lived, as Mercy took seven of the following eight points to take the deciding fourth set, 25-20.
Match Two –Southern Connecticut State University 3, Assumption University 1
In their second match of the day, the Greyhounds started fast out of the gates, as they ran out to a 3-0 and a 9-2 advantage. The Owls would try to get close, but Assumption would answer with a longer run. AU would go on to take the first set 25-13.
Southern Connecticut would not waste time at the beginning of the second set, as they jumped out an early 6-1 and 12-3 lead. Assumption slowly chipped away at the deficit, but the Owls held on to win the second set 25-19. In the third set, SCSU strung together four three-plus point stretches to control most of the set.
Barbara Illig put together three-straight aces to get Assumption within five (21-16), but Southern Connecticut held on to take the third set 25-18.
The fourth set was neck-to-neck for a significant portion of the set, but it wasn't the score was 16-16 when the Owls picked up five-straight points. That run proved the difference, as SCSU took the fourth set 25-21.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
UP NEXT
- Assumption vs. Emerson, Thursday, September 1, 7:00 pm
- Mercy at Caldwell, Thursday, September 1, 5:00 pm
- SCSU vs. Chestnut Hill, Saturday, August 27, 12:00 pm
