by Sean Begin
It felt like two different Central Connecticut teams stepped onto the volleyball court this past weekend.
The first lacked energy and faced a Fairleigh Dickinson team on Saturday that came into Detrick Gymnasium and played the best volleyball of its season, according to its head coach, sweeping Central in three sets.
The second played with the same focus that usually characterizes it when, along with Sacred Heart, it broke an NCAA single set record by combining for 90 points in a 46-44 fourth set loss on Sunday. Central won that match in five sets, thanks to a school record 35 kills from junior captain Makenna Lommori.
“I’ve never seen that kind of side out volleyball,” said head coach Linda Sagnelli after the team’s win on Sunday. “It was just crazy. Both times were going after it. I don’t think either team started to sit back a little bit. Both team’s just wanted it so badly.”
Central (7-12, 3-4 NEC) took the first set from the Pioneers 25-23. The Pioneers rebounded, coming out strong against Central in the second set, going up 16-3 to start before finishing the Blue Devils off 25-11. Central took the third set 25-19.
Central was up 24-21 in the fourth set, needing just one point to close out the match. But Sacred Heart scored three straight points to tie it up a 24. With a two-point margin necessary to win, the teams began trading score after score. One side would gain the advantage for several points, only to lose it to the other and be forced to play from behind.
Finally, a kill by SHU’s Tori Kemper put the Pioneer’s up 45-44 before a miscommunication from Central allowed the ball to fall in between three players and give SHU the 46-44 set victory.
“We had a miscommunication and it’s unfortunate it ended that set like that but sometimes those points just don’t go your way,” said Sagnelli. “But it wasn’t for lack of trying. Everybody, their heart was just out on the court. Not just on our side but on their side too. That was a battle.”
“The way it ended wasn’t the way we wanted it to end,” added junior captain Makenna Lommori. “So we talked about that a little bit [in the huddle after the set] and more of coming out strong and not giving up. No tipping, more just swinging and attacking every point.”
Central was able to string together a few small runs in the fifth set to hold off Sacred Heart for the well-earned 15-12 victory. The turnaround from the previous day’s sweep at the hands of FDU came thanks to an increased energy level.
“It was definitely better than yesterday,” said Lommori of the team coming into Sunday. “We were focusing on us more so than Sacred Heart, just our energy and our attitudes with each other and working with each other.”
Lommori’s 35 kills weren’t the only school record to fall on Sunday. Junior setter Ashley Lenington set the record for most assists in a game with 63 under the current 25-point format that was instituted in 2008. As a team, CCSU recorded a program high in kills (73) and assists (67).
Central had good offensive games from sophomore Nicole Dean (12 kills), senior Rachel Dunlap (10), freshman Nicole Celarek (8) and sophomore Brooke Schwab (7). Senior Brittany Schumacher and sophomore Rachel Fish both posted double-digit digs with 17 and 16, respectively.
Central also tallied 11 blocks as a team, but their blocking game wasn’t as effective Sunday afternoon as it had been previously.
“Our block was late and when a block is late it pops the ball up,” said Sagnelli. “We had some awesome touches on defense and we had some touches that I thought could have done a little bit better on. But I think that kind of washed out on both sides because the same was true for them.”
For Sagnelli, the effort and the victory on Sunday made up for the loss on Saturday.
“We were not happy at all with the way we played yesterday and the effort we put forth yesterday. I think today kind of rights that wrong that happened yesterday,” said Sagnelli. “I feel outstanding about the effort they put forth today and they have to feel that way too. That was a well fought match and a deserving victory for us.”
Central will now play three straight games on the road, beginning on Saturday when they visit Bryant, before heading to Pennsylvania next weekend for matches against Robert Morris and St. Francis (Pa.).
“It’s going to be absolutely fine to get back on the road,” said Sagnelli. “We know what Bryant is about so we’ll be able to prepare all week for them. But it’s going to be a fight. I think every match is going to be a fight and it’s going to come down to execution.”
Central won’t play again at home until the Brooklyn schools — LIU-Brooklyn and St. Francis-Brooklyn — come in for the weekend on Nov. 8 and 9.