Central Connecticut State University’s volleyball team earned its third victory of the season, defeating the winless La Moyne College Dolphins on Friday, Oct. 13, in Detrick Gymnasium.
The win improved the team’s record to 3-14 on the year and 2-4 in Northeast Conference play.
The victory was CCSU’s first since Sept. 29, when the Blue Devils defeated Merrimack College on the road, 3-2. It was the team’s first home victory of the season.
In a match that lasted just over an hour, the Blue Devils took advantage of various Dolphin miscues en route to a clean sweep.
The Blue Devils made the first two sets look easy, winning 25-16 and 25-15, respectively. The third set proved more challenging, but the Blue Devils eked out a 25-20 victory in the end.
Sophomore outside hitter Weronika Poczynek led the Blue Devils with 10 kills on the day, while senior opposite hitter Isabelle Roufs added seven of her own.
Freshman setter Kylee Baranski, replacing fellow freshman Larissa Hiemer, led the team with 15 assists. Junior setter Madison Massaro-Cook added 10 assists.
Massaro-Cook, from Newington, has undoubtedly taken on the team’s vocal leader role.
“I’m a junior this year, so you grow confidence as the years progress,” she said. “Also, being a leader on the court, bringing up your teammates when they’re down, listening to them when they have to rant, and things like that also add to the leadership and communication on the court.”
Her coach, Linda Sagnelli, liked what she saw from the team in the game.
“We’ve been working in practice all week to handle the ball cleanly, and tonight, they did that,” Sagnelli said. “We handled all of the out-of-system balls beautifully, and they read them very quickly.”
The Blue Devils now turn their attention toward their upcoming contest with the Red Flash of Saint Francis University.
“It’s going to be a very close head-to-head game,” Sagnelli said. “We have to be very aggressive tomorrow. We need the same ball control and good defense that we played today, and we really got to take it to them.”
Aiding Sagnelli’s remarks about good defense was junior opposite hitter Isabella Bratzske, who compiled 13 digs on the night. The team had 49 in total.
TheSaint Francis Red Flash currently sits at third place in the Northeast Conference but, a home win could propel the Blue Devils up the standings with the season soon coming to a close.
The Blue Devils play Saint Francis University in their second contest of a five-match homestand on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 4:00 p.m. in Dietrick Gymnasium.
