Volleyball Wins Season Opening Match, Defeats Bucknell 3-0

Senior Amanda Olmstead and sophomore Lauren Snyder combined for 21 out of the 40 Central Connecticut kills to propel the Blue Devils past Bucknell in opening night action of the CCSU Blue Devil Invitational. Central recorded a hitting percentage of .314 and tallied 10 service aces to defeat the Bison 3-0 (28-26, 25-12, 25-18).

Olmstead recorded 10 kills on .714 hitting percentage and tallied seven digs in the match. Snyder led the Blue Devils with 11 kills and finished with five digs on the night. Junior Jamie Baumert and sophomore Maite Mendizabal each notched eight kill and seven dig performances for the Blue Devils in the first match of the season.

The Blue Devils got out to a fast start in the first set as they led 7-3 on three kills by Snyder. Bucknell slowly came back to take the lead for the first time at 18-17. The set went back and forth and ended in extra points when CCSU won 28-26 on an attacking error. Snyder finished with six kills in the set, while Baumert and Mendizabal each added five. The two setter team of sophomore Amanda Bayer and freshman Danielle Gasser each recorded eight assists in the set.

Central again took a commanding lead to start the second set, starting with a 6-1 run. After the Bison fought back to cut the lead to 10-8, the Blue Devils scored eight straight points off of Baumert serves and coasted to a 25-12 win. Olmstead led CCSU in the set with five kills, while Baumert tallied four digs in the set for the Blue Devils.

In the third set both teams traded points throughout until the score read 18-18. The Blue Devils scored seven straight points to win 25-18 as Mendizabal served out the match, tallying three service aces in the process. Baumert led Central in the set with three kills and two digs. Bayer recorded five assists for the Blue Devils in the set.

Bayer and Gasser finished the match with 16 and 15 assists respectively. Freshman Laura Hansen led the Blue Devils with two blocks in her first collegiate match. CCSU finished with 40 digs in the match getting seven from sophomore libero Kaitlin Petrella.

Bucknell was led by sophomore Kaitlin Segal with 13 kills and eight digs.

In earlier action, Iona defeated Stony Brook 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 26-24).

The second day of the CCSU Blue Devil Invitational continues tomorrow, Saturday August 30, beginning with a 10 a.m. matchup between Bucknell and Iona. CCSU faces Iona at 12:30 p.m. and Stony Brook at 4:30 p.m. Stony Brook will take on Bucknell at 2:30 p.m.