NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The William Paterson volleyball team (2-5) was bested in four sets by No. 21 Christopher Newport (3-3) before falling 3-1 to Bridgewater (4-3) Sept. 6 on the final day of the Captains Classic.  

MATCH ONE:
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers trailed by two (13-11) in the opening set before Christopher Newport used a 7-3 run to extend the advantage to six (20-16). Despite three unanswered WP points, the Captains held on and grabbed the 25-19 victory.
• WP pulled to within one (16-15) in the second set after an attack error by Christopher Newport. However, the Captains went on a 9-1 run to earn the 25-16 set win.
• The Pioneers owned an early 11-4 lead in the third set until a 7-1 Christopher Newport run pulled the Captains to within one (15-14). WP maintained its slim lead the rest of the way and a 6-2 run capped off by a kill from freshman Riley Elliott (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge) to close out the set gave the Pioneers the 25-20 victory.
• A late 6-1 run in the fourth set allowed the Pioneers to take a 22-20 lead. However, the Captains countered with a 6-2 run to capture the 26-24 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Elliott led the Pioneers with eight kills.
• Junior Cecilia Miller (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) finished with seven kills, 15 digs and three aces.
• Junior Abby Houpt (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) recorded a double-double after tallying 25 assists and 14 digs.
• Sophomore Bella Demers (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee) had a team-best 25 digs.
• Junior Leah Molnar (Loudoun, Va./Freedom) and senior Abigail Hayth (Milford, N.J./Delaware Valley Regional) logged 11 and 10 digs, respectively.

MATCH TWO:
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In a tightly-contested first set, a kill by Elliott gave WP the 20-19 edge. However, Bridgewater used a 6-2 run to claim the 25-22 win.
• After trailing 5-3 early in the second set, the Pioneers flipped the script, outscoring the Eagles, 15-6, to go ahead by seven (18-11). WP held on and back-to-back kills by Hayth and junior Laura Gruener (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) secured the 25-17 victory.
• Bridgewater owned a seven-point advantage (17-10) in the third set until WP went on an 11-4 run to even the score at 21-21. The Eagles came away with the set win after outscoring the Pioneers, 4-1, the rest of the way.
• Despite trailing by eight (23-15) in the fourth set, the Pioneers pulled to within two (24-22) following a 7-1 run. However, the Eagles prevented any further damage and came away with the 25-22 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Hayth had a season-best 14 kills and a career-high 18 digs.
• Elliott totaled a season-high 14 kills and five digs.
• Freshman Emeli Giesler (Milton, Ga./Milton) posted a season-best nine kills and five blocks.
• Gruener tallied a career-high eight kills and added three blocks.
• Houpt dished out a season-best 46 assists and recorded 10 digs.
• Demers notched a season-high 31 digs and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
• Molnar finished with a season-best 13 digs.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will head to Purchase, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 13, for an 11:00 a.m. match at Manhattanville before squaring off against Dickinson at 1:00 p.m.  

 
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