Volleyball Drops Saturday Morning Match to Niagara

The Central Connecticut volleyball team completed play in the Red Storm Invitational on Saturday, falling to Niagara, 3-0. Lauren Milani had a match-high 11 kills, while Weronika Poczynek and Larissa Hiemer each nearly had a double-double.

Central will face Fairfield at the Fairfield Invitational beginning on Thursday night.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score:  CCSU 0, NIAGARA 3 (25-19, 28-26, 25-21)
Records: CCSU (0-1), NU (1-1)
Location: Carnesecca Arena | Queens, NY

KEY MOMENTS

• Niagara would score nine straight points to go ahead, 9-1, in the opening set. A kill by Milani would spark a stretch of four straight points for CCSU that included a pair of service aces by Annabelle Denomme. The Blue Devils would get within, 22-19, after a block by Amanda Tokam and Isabella Bratzke, but the Purple Eagles would respond with three points to close the set.
• CCSU opened the second set with a kill by Milani and an ace by Hiemer. The Blue Devils' lead would grow to 5-1 before Niagara drew even at 9-9. Neither squad would lead by more than three points and the Purple Eagles would have set point at 24-22. Following a pair of Niagara errors to draw even, Bratzke recorded a kill to set up the first of two CCSU set points. The Purple Eagle would score three straight to take a 2-0 lead in the set.
• Central opened the third set with back-to-back kills by Olivia Keckler and Poczynek and two straight aces by Milani to build a 4-0 lead. Niagara would go ahead for good at 6-5 although CCSU would tie the set at 8-8. The Purple Eagles would score two straight and built a lead to as much as six points before closing out the set.

NUMBER TO KNOW

7 – CCSU had seven service aces in the match and is averaging six per match this season.

NOTES

• The programs were meeting for the third time, and the Purple Eagles have won the past two meetings.
• Milani finished with 11 kills, eight digs and four service aces.
• Hiemer had 20 assists and nine digs.
• Poczynek had 12 digs with eight kills.
• Denomme had a team-leading 16 digs.
• Kaylin Hadley was named to the all tournament team following the weekend

UP NEXT

• Central will face Fairfield at the Fairfield Invitational beginning on Thursday night.

Follow @CCSUBlueDevils on Twitter and CCSUBlueDevils.com for updates.