NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The William Paterson volleyball team (0-2) battled a pair of strong opponents during its season-opening matches at the Captains Classic Aug. 30, falling in four sets to host Christopher Newport (1-0) and three sets to No. 4 Johns Hopkins (1-0).
 
MATCH ONE:
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers scored five of the first set's final 12 points, but an early CNU lead allowed the Captains to secure an opening 25-10 win.
• Christopher Newport used a 9-2 run midway through the second set to come away with a 25-14 victory.
• WP looked more comfortable and settled during the third set, reeling off five straight points for a 7-6 advantage. Neither team led by more than three until a 7-1 burst pushed William Paterson ahead by an 18-13 count. CNU answered with two unanswered points, but the Pioneers responded with six straight points of their own and came away with a 25-16 third-set triumph.
• Things were tight in the fourth, knotted at 12-12, but the Captains pulled away for an eventual 25-19 win.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Graduate student outside hitter/right side Hope Arce-Reed (New Carrollton, MD/College Park Academy) paced WP with 12 kills.
• Sophomore outside hitter Cecilia Miller (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) contributed six kills and 10 digs.
• Senior libero Paola Molina (Hatillo, Puerto Rico/Colegio San Felipe) collected 17 digs.
• Sophomore setter Abby Houpt (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) posted 25 assists, 10 digs and three service aces.
• Freshman libero Dilara Pak (Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens) had 10 digs and three aces during her collegiate debut.
• Sophomore middle hitter Sofia Zablackis (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) put up six total blocks (three solo).
• The Captains are coming off a 16th-consecutive NCAA Tournament bid, reaching the second round after defeating Ramapo during the opener. CNU received votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Top 25 Poll.

 
MATCH TWO:
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers pulled to within four (11-7) early in the first set, but the Blue Jays used a 9-3 run to help forge a 25-15 opening win, then took the second and third sets by identical 25-13 scores.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Arce-Reed again led WP in kills, tallying 12.
• Molina collected nine digs.
• Houpt added 15 assists.
• The Blue Jays are coming off a 2023 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight finish.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson takes on No. 1 Juniata Saturday, Aug. 31, at 11:00 a.m. at the Captains Classic.

 
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• http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia