JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Saint Peter's University women's volleyball team had opportunities throughout its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) matchup at home against Marist on Saturday but ultimately fell just short, as the Red Foxes held off the Peacocks in a 3-1 victory for the visitors.
Saint Peter's, which was playing its first home match at Run Baby Run Arena inside the renovated Yanitelli Center, was level with Marist at 24-24 in both the third and fourth sets but was unable to take either frame after a thrilling 26-24 win in the opening stanza.
Senior
Alanis Alvarado paced the offense with 17 kills on 52 tries (21.2%), while rookie
Suzzanne Bigelow continued her impressive debut campaign with a team-leading six block assists.
The Basics
Score: Marist 3, Saint Peter's 1 (26-24; 13-25; 24-26; 24-26)
Records: Saint Peter's (1-14, 0-4) | Marist (9-8, 4-2)
Location: Run Baby Run Arena | Jersey City, NJ
Set Summaries
- After a back-and-forth start to the first home volleyball contest in the Yanitelli Center since November of 2019, Marist built a comfortable lead as part of a 7-0 run that pushed the visitors out to a seven-point advantage. (20-13) However, Saint Peter's would not go quietly and won seven of the next nine points to put the pressure on the Red Foxes.
- Down by two (22-20), Alvarado started the rally with a kill to prompt three straight Saint Peter's points to tie the match. Marist would have a set point opportunity, but the home side ripped off three straight points thanks to back-to-back kills from Alvarado and a set-clincher by Wildalys Soto to give the Peacocks a 1-0 lead in the match.
- Marist came out firing in the second set, building an early 5-0 lead and then staking itself to a 10-point advantage midway through the frame at 16-6. The Peacocks would get as close as eight points the rest of the way before the Red Foxes took the second ledger by a 25-13 margin.
- Things were much tighter from there on out, starting with a Saint Peter's four-point edge early in the third frame (9-5) before Marist went on a run to grab a 12-10 edge at the midpoint of the set. Neither team would have more than a two-point cushion until a 20-17 advantage for the Peacocks following a Bigelow slam, but Marist answered with three straight to draw even at 20-20.
- The visitors grabbed a set point at 24-23 before an errant serve tied the third stanza at 24-24, but back-to-back points would give the Red Foxes an important 2-1 lead in the match.
- The fourth ledger followed a similar script, as neither side took more than a four-point lead in the early goings. Saint Peter's had a 13-9 edge after a kill by senior Stephanie Rivera, but a 7-1 run for the Red Foxes turned their four-point deficit into a two-point lead (16-14).
- Saint Peter's looked to be in control and gave the friendly home crowd reason to cheer after ripping off five straight and 6-of-7 points, pushing their lead to 20-17. The Peacocks were two points away from pushing the match the distance after senior Angeleyshka Curbelo smashed a setup from Soto for a 23-20 lead for the hosts.
- Marist, however, would go on to take the next four points and set up a match point in their favor; the Peacocks staved off that initial opportunity, but Marist took the ensuing two rallies to take the fourth frame (26-24) and the match (3-1).
Highlights
- Alvarado went off to the delight of the Peacock Nation faithful in attendance, pacing the Peacocks with a season-high 17 kills, two aces and 17 digs.
- Rookie Charlee Cordts was next on the defensive end with 15 digs, while Curbelo rounded out the defensive front with 12 stops.
- Curbelo padded the scoresheet with 10 kills and four blocks to go along with her 12 digs, while Bigelow led all Peacocks with six blocks.
- Soto was all over the floor with 36 assists.
Up Next
Saint Peter's remains at home to welcome Siena to town tomorrow (Oct. 3). Opening serve is set for 1 p.m.
