WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Simmons College volleyball team erased a two-set deficit, but was unable to come all the way back in a 3-2 (25-20, 25-15, 17-25, 13-25, 16-14) loss at host University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) to open the Great Northeast Athletic Conference slate this afternoon in West Harford, Conn. The Sharks fall to 0-6 overall and 0-1 in league play, while the Blue Jays improve to 3-2 and 1-0.
Facing a 2-0 deficit, Simmons won the next two sets handily at 25-17 and 25-13 and owned a 12-8 lead in the fifth and deciding set, before Saint Joseph won five straight and eight of the next 10 points to win the final set, 16-14. Sophomore middle hitter Abby Hart (Westfield, Mass.) registered a kill to fight off match point and knot the set at 14-14, before the home team won the next two points to secure the match.
The Sharks were within 16-15 in the opening set, but a 5-1 run gave the Blue Jays a 21-16 advantage before taking the frame, 25-20.
First years Emmee Ashby (Payson, Ariz.) and Sarah Woodward (Deerfield, Mass.) along with junior Nicole Alberghini (Northborough, Mass.) all put away 10 kills on the afternoon for Simmons to lead the offensive attack. Woodward added eight digs, an ace and a block assist, while Ashby got up to assist on four blocks in addition to scooping up a pair of digs. Sophomore setter Andalyn Duke (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) directed the action with a career-high 42 assists to go with a personal-best 17 digs, four kills and two block assists. Junior defensive specialist Chanel Thomas Phoenix, Ariz.) stepped up with a career-best 21 digs and six aces, while sophomore Cailin Fredrickson (Columbia, Md.) contributed with eight kills, six digs and a block assist.
Junior Tiffany Mapusaga (Waianae, Hawaii) led Saint Joseph with a match-high 26 kills which fueled a .344 hitting percentage in addition to 17 digs and a pair of aces. Senior Ciara Perez (Manchester, Conn.) also chipped in with 12 kills, an ace and seven digs. Senior Megan Williams (Lakeville, Conn.) led all players with 45 assists and added 18 digs, four kills and two aces.
The Sharks will be in action again on Wednesday, September 17 when they host Endicott College at Moore Gymnasium at 5:00 p.m., while the Blue Jays host Elms College on September 16 at 7:00 p.m.