Box Score
JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Saint Peter's University women's volleyball program dropped a hotly contested five-set affair to visiting Marist on Saturday at the Yanitelli Center. The Peacocks rallied from a set down and took the fourth frame to send the match the distance, but the Red Foxes then completed their own comeback late in the fifth stanza to take the match by a 3-2 final.
The Basics
Score: Marist 3, Saint Peter's 2
Records: Saint Peter's (3-11, 1-2) | Marist (4-8, 2-1)
Location: Yanitelli Center | Jersey City, N.J.
How It Happened
- Setting the tone for what would be the theme of the contest, the opening ledger was a back-and-forth affair that ultimately went in favor of the Peacocks. The hosts grabbed a three-point lead (19-16) late and then pulled away by winning six of the final 10 rallies to pull out in front. Sophomore Angeleyshka Curbelo led the home side with six skills in the opening frame, while senior captain Danielle Lopez added three block assists to help the cause.
- Marist would tie the match with a 25-22 victory in the second set, winning seven of the first nine points to start hot. Saint Peter's fought back with a 9-5 run to get within one (12-11) and eventually tied the set at 18-18 following an ace by Curbelo, her third of the match at that point. The hosts drew level again at 22-22, but the Red Foxes won the next three points to square the match.
- The middle set wound up being arguably the most entertaining and needed a few extra points to decide it, but Marist would ultimately prevail, 27-25, to temporarily go in front. The visitors built an early 9-6 lead before the Peacocks roared right back to tie the frame at 9-all. An 8-4 run for the Red Foxes saw them build a 17-13 advantage, but then the Peacocks won eight of the next 11 points to grab a lead at 21-20. The home side had set point, but Marist staved it off and ultimately prevailed to push the Peacocks to the brink.
- Trying to send the match the distance for the fifth time this fall, Saint Peter's endured an early Marist outburst before taking control of the fourth set, which they would eventually win by five points. Marist started the fourth set with four straight points, but the Peacocks embarked on a 11-4 run to take a three-point lead that they never relinquished. The visitors did draw even at 19-19, prompting a timeout, but Saint Peter's went on to win six of the last seven points, including the final five, to send the match the distance.
- In the deciding ledger, neither side led by more than three points, as the Peacocks took an 8-6 lead at the turn and led by as many as three (10-7) before Marist ripped off three straight to make it a first-to-five situation down the stretch. Saint Peter's appeared to have all the momentum with a 12-10 lead, but the Red Foxes stormed back with five unanswered to win the set and, ultimately, the contest.
Game Notes
- Sophomore Stephanie Rivera's 19.5 points were the most for the hosts, as she posted 12 kills and an attacking percentage of 14.3 percent on the day while factoring into nine blocks (two solo) and posting four digs.
- Curbelo held the team lead with 15 kills and was one of three Peacocks to own a double-digit kill total on the day alongside Rivera and sophomore Alanis Alvarado. The former also added 11 digs.
- SPU setters accounted for 10 aces on the afternoon, with sophomore Andrea Lombeyda leading the charge with three.
- Junior Karla Seda posted 30 digs, which were the most on the squad on Saturday.
- As a team, the Peacocks converted on 13.1 percent of their attacks for the day while finishing with 46 kills, 10 aces, 17 blocks and 78 digs.
Up Next
The Peacocks return to action back at the Yanitelli Center tomorrow (Sept. 29) afternoon when they welcome Siena for a 1 p.m. matchup.
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