JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Nov. 14, 2021) - With seven student-athletes competing for the final time in their senior season, the Saint Peter's University women's volleyball team made sure to end on a high note as they took down Canisius University 3-1 Sunday at the Yanitelli Center in the final contest of the regular season.
The Peacocks were fittingly led by their senior class in the win as both Alanis Alvarado and Angeleyshka Curbelo both totaled double-digit kills, setter Wildalys Soto racked up 32 assists and libero Alwen Pila produced 20 digs to give SPU (3-27) their second win in the last three matches and drop the Golden Griffins to 10-17 overall.
With her solid effort in the win, Soto reached a historic milestone, becoming just the fourth student-athlete in program history to produce 2,000 career assists. Additionally, Soto closes her career with 6.63 assists per set which is the third-best mark in the history of SPU women's volleyball.
Alvarado was spectacular as well, leading the Peacocks with a 15-kill, 21-dig double-double effort while hitting .289. She finishes the season with 943 kills and 914 digs in her career, coming up just shy of joining the illustrious 1,000-1,000 club in just three competitive seasons.
Curbelo's career also ended in a big way as she finished the night with a season-high 13 kills while also adding six blocks, two of which she rejected by herself as solos. In three competitve seasons with the Peacocks, Curbelo racked up 763 total kills, topping 200 kills in each season in Jersey City.
After winning the opening set 25-19, Canisius tied things up at one win apiece with a 26-24 victory in the second. The Peacocks responded in a big way, winning the third set 25-18 before dismantling the Golden Griffins 25-11 in the fourth for the 3-1 victory.
In addition to the four seniors in double figures, the other two who saw playing time also contributed in a big way as Stephanie Rivera contributed five blocks, Andrea Lombeyda put down a career-high four aces and Jeysi Montero produced a pair of blocks and a pair of kills. The Peacocks also honored senior Gabriela Castro prior to the match who could not play due to injury.
Match Summary
- SPU came out of the gates hot in the opening set, winning the first four points before swelling the lead to as many as five.
- The two teams traded points back-and-forth from there, but the Peacocks never allowed the Griffs to get back within three points as they took the opening set 25-19.
- The second set saw the two teams jockey for position for the majority as Canisius took a 16-13 lead with a 4-0 run.
- The Peacocks were able to stave off a pair of set points late, the second of which came on an ace from Piwa, but were unable to complete the comeback as the Griffs won 26-24 to tie things up.
- SPU again started hot in the third set, scoring 10 of the first 15 points to take an early five-point edge.
- Back-to-back service aces from freshman Charlee Corts capped off a 4-0 run that extended the lead to as many as eight and the Peacocks were able to hold on from there, winning 25-18.
- The fourth and final set was all SPU from the opening serve as the Peacocks found themselves ahead 13-3 after a pair of aces by Lombeyda.
- SPU cruised from there as Alvarado put down her 15th kill of the day to end the set at 25-11 and seal the victory.
Inside the Numbers
- The Peacocks hit .225 in the match, the second best total in a match this season, while holding the Griffs to a .130 attack percentage.
- Led by four from Lombeyda, SPU found the court with 10 service aces to reach double figures for the second time this season.
- Freshmen Lily Barnhill and Suzzanne Bigelow also effective in the win as they both put down five kills apeice while combining for just three errors.
- SPU was also fantastic at the point of attack defensively with eight total blocks as a team, led by six from Curbelo.
- The double-double for Alvarado was her ninth this season and her third in the last four matches.
- The decisive fourth set was dominated by the Peacocks as they hit .550 with 11 kills on just 20 swings and zero errors while holding Canisius to .094.
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