Volleyball Loses Five-Set Thriller to Daemen

10/29/2016 6:24:00 PM

Box Score

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Oct. 29, 2016) - The LIU Post volleyball team dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision (19-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-15, 16-18) to East Coast Conference foe Daemen College Saturday at the Pratt Recreation Center.

Though they lost the first two sets, the Pioneers (10-12, 3-6 ECC) fought back to force a deciding fifth game in the match.

In the third set, LIU Post trailed 4-3 early on, until a 6-1 spurt put the green and gold in front, 9-5. Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Londot (Utica, Ohio) tallied two kills in the run, while sophomore setter Giulia Genna (Rome, Italy) had a kill and assisted on a block.

The Pioneers eventually built as much as a 17-10 lead in the game, on a kill by junior outside/right-side hitter Danielle Valenza (Hauppauge, N.Y.), to force a Wildcats' (17-6, 9-1 ECC) timeout.

The hosts would take the third set by a 25-21 count, after Valenza and senior middle hitter Taryn McCullouch (Buena Park, Calif.) teamed up for a block on Daemen's Courtney Scanlan (Ellicottville, N.Y.).

Down 12-11 in the fourth game, LIU Post rallied again, using a 10-0 streak to grab a 21-12 advantage. Valenza provided four kills in the outburst. McCullouch added a pair of kills.

The Pioneers never looked back from there, as they went on to a 25-15 victory, off a kill by Londot.

In the fifth set, LIU Post jumped out to a commanding 8-1 lead. Londot served back-to-back aces in the run. Valenza recorded a kill and two blocks.

However, Daemen came back to even the score at 14-all to force extra points. Shortly thereafter, an Amber Drzymala (West Seneca, N.Y.) kill and Valenza attack error secured a come-from-behind 18-16 win for the Wildcats.

Valenza led all players with a match-high 22 kills in the contest. She also totaled 13 digs and six blocks. Londot posted her fourth double-double (12 kills, 11 digs) in her last five matches. McCullouch put down nine kills and rejected nine blocks. Genna allocated 30 assists, while collecting six digs, three kills and two blocks.

Head Coach Amanda Ostapow and her LIU Post squad are back at it Sunday (Oct. 30), when they host Roberts Wesleyan College in an ECC showdown at noon at the Pratt Recreation Center in Brookville.