ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Oct. 11, 2014) - The LIU Post volleyball team snapped a four-match skid Saturday, defeating East Coast Conference nemesis Roberts Wesleyan in straight sets at the Voller Athletic Center.
The Pioneers (9-10, 4-3 ECC) dominated the match, silencing the Redhawks (9-6, 5-3 ECC) by scores of 25-10, 25-11 and 25-21.
After trading the first two points of the opening game, LIU Post took the next four points on three errors by their opponents and a service ace by sophomore Analise Austin (Honolulu, Hawaii). The Pioneers put the set away early, racing out to a 9-3 lead behind consecutive kills from junior setter Monica Amador (Cedar Park, Texas). Throughout the first set, the green and gold hit at an impressive .440 clip, sporting 13 kills in 25 total attacks with a mere two hitting errors. Freshman outside hitter Danielle Valenza (Hauppauge, N.Y.) led the offensive onslaught for the Pioneers, accumulating five kills in the opening stanza. Valenza collected three of those kills in the final seven points, as the team won all of those rallies to collect the 25-10 win in the first game.
The second set saw LIU Post jump out to another early lead, as Austin's service game proved once again to be too much for the Redhawks to handle. The sophomore launched two service aces in five unanswered points, with two Roberts Wesleyan errors and a Valenza kill giving the Pioneers an early 5-1 edge. Much like the first set, the green and gold did not relinquish the lead once they took it, as they capitalized on errors by their opponents to grab a 17-6 advantage. Following an attack error and a kill by Courtney Taylor (Spring, Texas) for the Redhawks, LIU Post won eight of the next 11 points to capture the second set, 25-11. Once again, Valenza was a focal point on offense for the Pioneers, as her six kills led all attackers in the middle stanza. A kill by junior middle hitter Melissa Hansen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) would be the final point won in the game, as LIU Post held a 2-0 lead going into the third set.
The hosts did not go quietly in the final stanza, however. The teams traded the first two points before a Valenza kill and an attack error put LIU Post up 4-2. After more back-and-forth action between the two sides, a service ace from junior libero Rachel Ringor (Honolulu, Hawaii) put the Pioneers ahead 8-5, which the team eventually increased to a 10-6 margin. The Redhawks stormed back thanks to a service ace of their own from Olivia Zureck (Lancaster, N.Y.), which cut the lead to one at 12-11. Roberts Wesleyan would draw even with the Pioneers at 14-all, 15-all and 16-all, respectively, before the Pioneers put the match away. Another service ace by Ringor, coupled with two kills from freshman middle blocker Heather Ball (Gilbert, Ariz.) and a kill by Hansen, gave LIU Post a 20-16 lead. The Redhawks answered back with three straight points, but an Austin kill silenced the rally. Shortly afterwards, Ball put down the final point with another kill---her fourth in the set---as the green and gold completed the three-set sweep with a 25-21 win.
Valenza posted a double-double for the Pioneers, leading the way with match-highs in kills (15) and digs (12), respectively. The middle attack was solid for the green and gold, as Ball collected seven kills and Hansen posted a six-kill performance. The attacking prowess of LIU Post was made possible thanks to 31 assists from Amador, and a nine-dig effort from Ringor. Additionally, Ball, Austin, and senior outside hitter Heather Adams (Centerville, Ohio) each accrued seven digs.
Taylor's five kills were tied for the team lead for Roberts Wesleyan. Jordan Wilson (Vista, Calif.) and Judy Schultz (Hilton, N.Y.) both scored five kills, as well. The Redhawks were paced by Maggie Concannon's (Lancaster, N.Y.) 14 assists and eight digs across the match.
Head Coach Shellane Ogoshi and the Pioneers continue their visit to Western New York on Sunday (Oct. 12), when they face ECC opponent Daemen in Amherst, N.Y. First serve is set for 11 a.m.