The Central Connecticut State University women’s volleyball team fell to Stonehill College 3-2 on Senior Day, Saturday, Nov. 11, inside Detrick Gymnasium.
The loss ended Central’s season with a record of 5-9 in Northeast Conference play and 6-20 overall.
The Senior Day festivities preceded the match, with seniors Mia Lombardi, Isabelle Roufs, and Margaret Nolan, and student manager Danesha Noble, being honored alongside their families.
The match was fairly even throughout, with the two sides trading the first four sets before a winner-take-all fifth set.
Ultimately, the Skyhawks of Stonehill took the fifth and final set, 15-9.
Freshman opposite hitter Victoria Sanabria led the Blue Devils offensively with 12 kills, while Lombardo, also an opposite hitter, added 10 of her own.
Freshmen setters Larissa Heimer and Kylie Baranski contributed with 25 and 21 assists, respectively.
This game marked the end of head coach Linda Sagnelli’s 24-year tenure at CCSU and 38th as a coach overall.
Sagnelli, who announced her plan to retire in September, was honored with a post-game ceremony commemorating 24 years of dedication to the CCSU volleyball program and community.
Sagnelli, understandably, was overcome with emotion following the game.
“There’s so much going on, but I’m so appreciative and grateful for what everyone’s done for me,” she said. “I wouldn’t want any other team but this one to be the team I end my career with.”
Sagnelli’s three seniors were all on the court for the entirety of the fifth set.
Despite the loss, Roufs, an opposite hitter, was honored to share the court with her fellow seniors one final time in their collegiate careers.
“We wanted to win for us because it’s our last year, but we really wanted it for Coach Sagnelli and assistant coach Greg Shell,” Roufs said. “They’ve both put so much into this program that ending on a high note would’ve been so great.”
Lombardo shared a similar sentiment.
“I was just trying to enjoy my last time playing on the court with them,” Lombardo said. “That’s what we love to do together.”
Nolan, a libero, expressed gratitude for her experience on the volleyball team these past four years.
“I know Coach already mentioned it, but there’s no other team we would want to go out with,” Nolan said. “The love we have for each other, the commitment to each other, and the fun we have on the court. It was a fun environment today, and I’m glad we got to go out like that.”
