CCSU Defeats Iona and Falls to Stony Brook To Finish 2-1 in Blue Devil Invitational

Sophomore Lauren Snyder led the CCSU Volleyball team with 20 kills and 13 digs to get past Iona in the Blue Devils first game on the second day of action in the CCSU Blue Devil Invitational. Sophomore Amanda Bayer tallied 32 assists and eight digs in a losing effort against Stony Brook. Central Connecticut finished the weekend tied with Iona and Stony Brook, each with records of 2-1.

The Blue Devils got off to a slow start against Iona, with the Gaels breaking out to an early 4-1 lead in the first set. Central could never gain the lead and fell to Iona 25-14. Bayer recorded five assists while sophomore Kaitlin Petrella had seven digs in the set to lead CCSU.

In set two Central Connecticut got off to a quick start, beginning with a 6-1 run on three kills from Snyder. Iona fought back with a 9-1 run of their own to take the lead 10-7. Back and forth action continued until the Blue Devils finished the set with a service ace by sophomore Maite Mendizabal, making it 29-27. The outside hitter from Stratford, CT finished the set with five kills.

The third set went into extra points again as the Blue Devils edged the Gaels 27-25. Bayer and freshman Danielle Gasser each record six assists in the set to lead CCSU to a 2-1 advantage in sets.

The Gaels came out strong in the fourth set, starting with six straight points. Iona's lead was never relinquished as they defeated CCSU 25-16 in the set. Junior Sarah Wiener recorded seven kills for the Gaels in the set. Snyder led CCSU with five kills.

In the final set, Central Connecticut broke a 2-2 tie and led from there until Iona tied it up at 12-12 on a kill by Wiener. The Blue Devils finished the match with a 15-13 win on a kill by Snyder.

Senior Amanda Olmstead recorded 10 kills and 13 digs, while Mendizabal finished with 14 kills and seven digs. Bayer led the Blue Devils with 30 assists and Gasser chipped in with 20 to go with her eight digs. Petrella ended the match with a team high 16 digs.

Wiener led Iona with 26 kills while sophomore setter Alyssa Erickson recorded 52 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore libero Allison Nieters tallied a game high 37 digs in the loss.

CCSU started its contest with Stony Brook in back and forth action until the Sea Wolves had match point, leading 24-17. The Blue Devils then tallied eight straight points to take the lead 25-24 and send it into extra points. The squads traded points all the way until senior Jessica Graham recorded a service ace for the Sea Wolves to edge out Central 39-37 in the first set. Snyder and junior Jamie Baumert each had five kills in the set, while Bayer recorded 12 assists.

The Blue Devils fell to Stony Brook again in the second set, this time it was 25-19 Sea Wolves. Olmstead and Petrella each had four digs in the set.

CCSU rallied back to win the third set 25-23 on five kills from Snyder and four from Olmstead.

Stony Brook took the lead in the fourth set at 6-5 and never lost it as they defeated the Blue Devils 25-22. Bayer had eight assists and Baumert notched seven digs in the final set.

Snyder finished the match with 18 kills to lead Central Connecticut. Petrella finished with 14 digs, while Olmstead and Baumert chipped in with 11 and 10 respectively.

Senior Gulce Dikecligil led the way for the Sea Wolves with 23 kills. Freshman Kelsey Sullivan recorded an astounding 65 assists while junior libero Michelle Burrola led Stony Brook with 21 digs.

In other action on Saturday Iona defeated Bucknell 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-14) and Stony Brook won over Bucknell 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-22).

The All-Tournament Team for the CCSU Blue Devil Invitational was comprised of two players from CCSU, Iona and Stony Brook. Honorees included:

From Stony Brook, Jessica Graham and Gulce Dikecligil. From CCSU, Amanda Olmstead and Lauren Snyder. And from Iona, Sarah Wiener and Alyssa Erickson. Dikecligil of Stony Brook received MVP honors.

Central Connecticut returns to the court on Sept. 3 as the host St. John's at 7:00 p.m.