STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College (13-9, 7-3 GNAC) rallied past Albertus Magnus College (8-13, 1-8 GNAC), 3-2, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference volleyball action Saturday afternoon at the Harold Alfond Center. The Monks prevailed by set scores of 26-24, 20-25, 21-25, 25-19, and 15-12.
SENIOR DAY:
Before the match, Saint Joseph's honored its seniors with a ceremony recognizing their contributions to the program: Sabrina Arcilla (Rivervale, N.J.), Jessica Christman (Virginia Beach, Va.), Larisa Comolli (Nashua, N.H.), Kylie Giakoumis (Middletown, N.Y.), and Greta Mackintosh (Plymouth, Mass.).
The senior class played a major role in the important conference triumph, as Comolli led the Monks with 10 kills, while Christman and Mackintosh served five aces apiece and fueled a pivotal fourth-set comeback.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Saint Joseph's edged Albertus Magnus in a tightly contested opening set. Trailing 23-21, the Monks scored three consecutive points and, after the Falcons tied the score at 24-24, claimed the final two points for a 26-24 victory.
Albertus Magnus answered with wins in the next two sets to take a 2-1 match lead. The Monks rallied from a 20-13 deficit to pull within 20-19 in the third, but the Falcons held on for a 25-21 decision.
Facing elimination, Saint Joseph's erased a 16-10 deficit in the fourth set with seven consecutive points, including three Mackintosh aces. Albertus Magnus regained a 19-17 lead before the Monks closed with eight straight points. Christman served three aces during the finishing run to force a deciding set.
The Monks overcame a 6-4 deficit in the fifth with five unanswered points. After the Falcons tied the score at 9-9, a Mackintosh kill sparked a four-point surge that included two Christman aces and a solo block by freshman Sophia Fallon (New Canaan, Conn.). Fallon delivered the final two SJC kills, including the match-winner, to secure the comeback.
LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Comolli led the Monks with 10 kills on 21 attempts for a .381 hitting percentage and added eight digs, two service aces, and two block assists.
- Mackintosh recorded seven kills, eight digs, five service aces, and three block assists.
- Christman matched the team high with five service aces and collected six digs.
- Freshman Sophie Fedorisin (Grafenwoehr, Germany) tallied seven kills on 14 attempts and hit a team-high .429.
- Fallon contributed six kills, four service aces, and four total blocks.
- Junior Riley Greenley (Newark, Del.) handed out 15 assists and posted a team-high nine digs.
- Sophomore Maddie Garrett (Euless, Texas) added 11 assists and four digs.
- Sophomore Addison Thomas (London, Ohio) chipped in four kills, three digs, and a block assist.
- Arcilla and sophomore Livy McDonough (West Friendship, Md.) served two aces apiece.
LEADERS – ALBERTUS MAGNUS:
- Majo Pelaez paced the Falcons with 10 kills and added nine digs.
- Gabriela Pelaez recorded eight kills on 12 attempts for a .583 hitting percentage and contributed two service aces.
- Lia Beriguete added eight kills.
- Alyssa Valentine and Naomi Batalla each posted a double-double with 12 assists and 11 digs.
- Paula Matheus contributed five kills and three total blocks.
TEAM STATS:
Saint Joseph's held the advantage in service aces (21-6) and total blocks (6-3), while Albertus Magnus led in kills (45-37), assists (34-29), and digs (69-54). The Monks hit .099, while the Falcons finished with a .175 hitting percentage.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
Saint Joseph's improved to 18-2 all-time against Albertus Magnus with its sixth consecutive victory in the series.
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's travels to Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday, October 28, for a non-conference match at 6:00 PM in Providence, R.I.
