Volleyball Opens NEC with Five-Set WIn at Robert Morris
Blue Devils play at Saint Francis U on Sunday.
The Central Connecticut volleyball team opened Northeast Conference play with a 3-2 win at Robert Morris, the preseason coaches' poll pick, on Saturday. Senior Cassidy Stankowski posted a double-double with 13 kills and 18 digs. The Blue Devils improve to 6-7 overall and 1-0 in NEC play.
Sophomore Raquel Quirarte and freshman Gala Galabova each added 11 kills for the Blue Devils. Sophomore Kaitlyn Kushman had 24 assists and freshman Erin McDermott had 19 assists and 12 digs. Senior Rachel Fish led CCSU with 27 digs and junior Lindsey Massicotte had 17 digs.
Central led 13-9 in the opening set but after the teams were even at 18-18, the Colonials finished the set on a 7-1 run to take the first frame 25-19.
A kill by Quirarte in the second set put CCSU in front 10-7 and the Blue Devils quickly pushed the lead to 18-10 on kill by senior Brooke Schwab and an RMU error. The Colonials would get within, 24-21, before Central closed out the set to win 25-21 and even the match.
CCSU raced out to a 7-2 lead in the third set, but the Colonials climbed back into the set with five unanswered points. CCSU would erase a two-point deficit with five straight points to go ahead 21-19. A kill by freshman Madelyn Kaprelyan would give Central the set, 25-23.
Robert Morris forced a fifth set after taking the fourth set, 25-18.
In the decisive set, Massicotte helped serve Central to a 5-0 lead. The Blue Devils would extend the lead to 9-2 before an RMU run of six straight points cut the CCSU lead to 9-8. The Blue Devils would hold the lead and go on to win the set 15-13 following a kill by Quirarte.
Central travels to Saint Francis U. for a 2:00 p.m. match on Sunday.
