Volleyball Rallies for Five-Set Win at Mercyhurst

The Central Connecticut volleyball team won a five-set thriller at Mercyhurst in Northeast Conference action in Erie, PA, on Sunday. Lauren Milani had a match-high 19 kills and Weronika Poczynek added a double-double to lead the Blue Devils.

The Blue Devils host Le Moyne next weekend.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score:  CCSU 3, MERCYHURST 2 (25-22, 20-25, 17-25, 25-22, 15-12)
Records: CCSU (3-17, 1-7 NEC), HURST (3-15, 2-6 NEC)
Location: Mercyhurst Athletic Center | Erie, PA

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Devils trailed 10-3 in the opening set before taking a timeout. CCSU would get back-to-back kills by Isabella Bratzke and Poczynek to stem the Lakers' momentum. Trailing, 19-15, an ace by Milani began a run of six straight points that saw Central go ahead, 21-19. A kill by Poczynek would close out the opening set at 25-22 for CCSU.
• Mercyhurst scored the first six points of the second set and would lead, by as much as 12-4. Central would manage to get with 23-19 after a kill by Poczynek, but the Lakers would go on to close out the set to even the match.
• Central would trail throughout the third set, but managed to get three straight points to make it 7-6 in the early going. That was the closest margin in the set as the Lakers would take a 2-1 lead in the match.
• The Blue Devils would get within, 10-9, following kills by Poczynek and Kylee Baranski before tying the set at 11-11 after a Mercyhurst error. A kill by Bratzke, followed by a block from Olivia Keckler gave the Blue Devils the lead at 16-15. Central would score three straight points, with two coming on Milani kills, to close the set and send the match to a fifth frame.
• Mercyhurst scored the first three points in the decisive set before a Poczynek kill got Central on the board. A kill by Kaylin Hadley, followed by two Milani kills evened the set at 5-5. The Blue Devils would score five straight points on Milani serves and went ahead, 13-10. A kill by Poczynek would close the match for Central's first league win of the season.

NUMBER TO KNOW

71 – The Blue Devils matched a season-high with 71 digs.

NOTES

• Poczynek finished with 17 kills and 13 digs, while adding a block. She had a .333 attack percentage.
• Milani added nine digs, two blocks and two aces.
• Baranski had 43 assists with nine digs and three kills.
• Keckler had seven kills and a team-high three blocks.
• Denomme had 13 digs and three assists. She also had a 1.000 reception percentage on 17 chances.
• CCSU and Mercyhurst split their first two meetings as NEC members.

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils host Le Moyne next weekend. 

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