William Paterson University Athletics

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson volleyball team (2-2) swept Trine (0-4) before falling 3-0 to #RV Smith (2-2) Aug. 30 at the Sports and Recreation Center.   

MATCH 1:
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Trine opened the match with two points before William Paterson took control of the first set with an 18-7 run. The Pioneers maintained their advantage and went on to earn the 25-16 set victory.
• The two sides traded leads in the second set and the Pioneers went ahead 21-19 after an ace from junior Leah Molnar (Loudoun, Va./Freedom). Three straight points gave the Thunder the 22-21 edge, but WP scored four unanswered points to capture the 25-22 win.
• It was a one-point game (5-4) early in the third set until the Pioneers rattled off an 11-0 run to push the advantage to 12 (16-4). WP held on to its double-digit lead and secured the 25-12 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Junior Cecilia Miller (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) paced the Pioneers with a match-high 13 kills to pair with 13 digs for her second double-double of the season.
• Freshman Riley Elliott (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge) chipped in with nine kills and three blocks.
• Junior Abby Houpt (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) totaled 33 assists and seven digs.
• Sophomore Bella Demers (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee) notched 18 digs.
• Senior Abigail Hayth (Milford, N.J./Delaware Valley Regional) tallied 12 digs.

MATCH 2:
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• It was a back-and-forth opening set and the Pioneers trailed by one (15-14) following a kill by Miller. However, Smith went on an 8-2 run to extend its lead to seven (23-16) before eventually grabbing the 25-19 set win.
• The Bears built a nine-point advantage (21-12) in the second set. Despite a 6-1 WP run, Smith was able to hang on for the 25-18 victory.
• A kill by Elliott evened the score at 13-13 in the third set, sparking an 8-2 run by the Pioneers to make it a five-point game (20-15). Smith countered with a 10-3 run to earn the 25-23 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Elliott finished with a team-high nine kills while adding four blocks.
• Miller totaled eight kills and five digs.
• Houpt dished out 23 assists to go with six digs.
• Demers recorded a team-best 13 digs.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Pioneers will head to Newport News, Va., Sept. 5-6, for the Captains Classic, hosted by Christopher Newport. WP will take on Trinity (Texas) Friday, Sept. 5, at 12:30 p.m., before facing off against host Christopher Newport the following day at 1:00 p.m. and Bridgewater at 3:00 p.m.   

 
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:

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