William Paterson University Athletics

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson volleyball team (4-4) dropped a five-set thriller to No. RV William Smith (5-1) Sept. 12 at the Sports and Recreation Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers built an eight-point advantage (21-13) in the opening set before William Smith went on an 8-1 run to pull within one (22-21). WP countered with back-to-back points before a kill by freshman Presley Weber (McKinney, Texas/Emerson) later sealed the 25-23 win.
• Six unanswered points in the second set pushed the Pioneers in front by eight (18-10). However, the Herons responded with a 15-2 run to earn a 25-20 comeback victory.
• A kill by sophomore Korinne Bakken (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) evened the score at 19-19 in the third set, sparking a 7-2 run that gave WP the 25-22 win.
• The Herons used a 15-5 run midway through the fourth set to claim the 25-13 victory.
• It was a back-and-forth fifth set before the Herons came away with the 17-15 win following a 5-1 run.  

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Sophomore Riley Elliott (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge) recorded her first double-double of the season after finishing with a career-high 27 kills while adding 11 digs.
• Sophomore Emeli Giesler (Milton, Ga./Milton) logged a career-best 13 kills.
• Bakken tallied 10 kills.
• Freshman Sara Rogers (Dacula, Ga./Mill Creek) notched a career-high 33 assists to go with 13 digs.
• Senior Abby Houpt (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) posted 19 assists and eight digs.
• Junior Bella Demers (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee) had a career-best 35 digs and a season-high six assists.
• Sophomore Rebecca Rincon (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) finished with a season-best 12 digs.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson heads to Hoboken, N.J., Friday, Sept. 18, for a 7:00 p.m. game at Stevens.

 
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:

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