Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Women's volleyball battled back after dropping the opening set, winning three straight frames to earn a 3-1 victory over Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday evening at the Wildcat Center. With the victory, Emmanuel improves to 4-2 on the season, while JWU falls to 5-2.
The Saints came out of the gates battling in the opening set, but JWU used a strong offensive showing to take the first frame, 25-18. Emmanuel registered 13 kills in the set but was held to a .091 hitting percentage as the Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead.
Emmanuel responded in a big way in the second set. After the teams battled through an early 3-3 tie, the Saints began to create separation behind a strong serving stretch from sophomore
Kennedy Horne. Horne recorded back-to-back service aces to help Emmanuel build a 7-3 advantage. JWU eventually pulled even at 16-16 before the Saints regained control late.
With the set tied at 19-19, JWU grabbed a 22-19 lead, putting Emmanuel in danger of falling into a 2-0 hole. The Saints, however, answered with a crucial 6-0 run.
Ayla Evans sparked the comeback with three consecutive service aces, followed by a kill from
Kason Huynh and an attack error from the Wildcats, giving Emmanuel a 25-22 win and evening the match at one set apiece.
The third set remained tightly contested throughout, with neither team able to establish a significant advantage early. Emmanuel eventually turned an 18-18 tie into a 21-18 lead, using three straight points to seize momentum. The Wildcats pulled within one at 21-20, but the Saints closed the frame by scoring four of the final five points, including kills from Fran Ramos Rodriguez and
Letitia Bossou, to take the set, 25-21.
Emmanuel carried that momentum into the fourth set, jumping out to a commanding 7-0 lead. The Saints received early kills from Bossou and Evans before JWU mounted a comeback and eventually cut the deficit to 9-7.
The Wildcats continued to battle, eventually pulling within one at 22-21. Emmanuel answered with a pivotal kill from
Kason Huynh to make it 23-21 before a JWU attack error pushed the Saints to match point at 24-22. After JWU fought off one match point, Huynh delivered the decisive kill from
Sofia Petrucci to seal the 25-23 set victory.
Bossou led the Saints offensively with 13 kills, while Evans added 12 kills and a match-high four service aces. Huynh contributed 11 kills while hitting a team-best .308 and added three blocks.
Petrucci anchored the Emmanuel defense with a match-high 22 digs, while Evans added 13.
Addy Fry paced the Saints with 19 assists and Horne recorded 18 assists to help Emmanuel finish with 47 assists as a team.
The Saints return to action this weekend when they travel to Chicopee, Mass. for a tri-match against hosting Elms and MCLA. Emmanuel will take the court for the final two matches of their opening season road-trip at 12 and 2 PM.
