JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Saint Peter's volleyball team (5-13, 0-7 MAAC) dropped its conference matchup against Quinnipiac (8-11, 5-2 MAAC) in four sets (25-21, 18-25, 12-25, 23-25) on Saturday at Run Baby Run Arena. The Peacocks wrapped up their 'pink' weekend in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.
The Peacocks started the match strongly after winning the first set over the Bobcats. As the match went on, Saint Peter's had a tough time getting the offensive attack going as Quinnipiac swung the momentum. Despite the defeat, the Peacocks continued to be a force at the net, totaling 14 blocks on the day.
In her first weekend back from injury,
Elena Bilhartz had a standout performance against the Bobcats. She was just one block away from a double-double match, racking up nine blocks to add to her 10 kills. The Peacocks will need her down the stretch, especially if she plays the way she did today.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE: Early on, a nice dig from
Liz Reyes Pagan set up a kill from
Valeria Pagan Munoz to tie things up, 5-5. Back-to-back blocks by the Peacocks gave them an 11-7 lead over the Bobcats. Shortly after, another SPU block forced a Quinnipiac timeout as the Bobcats trailed, 9-13. Bilhartz continued her great start to the match with a kill down the middle after the timeout. Both teams traded points as the Peacocks maintained an 18-14 advantage. Just when Saint Peter's gained some momentum, the Bobcats came within three, 20-23, forcing an SPU timeout.
Jaizahir Marrero George subbed in and recorded a kill to give the Peacocks set point. Saint Peter's then took set one, 25-21, following a Quinnipiac attack error.
SET TWO: The Peacocks decided to talk it over after the Bobcats jumped out to an 8-3 lead. Quinnipiac continued to have its way in the second set, and after three unanswered points, Saint Peter's called its second and final timeout of the set. Three attack errors helped the Peacocs get back in the game, but they still trailed 10-15. Bilhartz brought SPU within three, 14-17, with her sixth kill of the match. The Bobcats managed to weather the storm with their offense, taking the set, 25-18.
SET THREE: The third set started with a 6-6 tie before the Peacocks took a 10-8 lead on a kill from
Indira T. Benitez Dumeng. The Bobcats responded with four straight points to go up, 12-10, and force a Saint Peter's timeout. Out of the break, Quinnipiac extended its scoring run to 14 to lead 22-10.
Sibana Gonzalez Acevedo picked up her first kill of the match to put an end to the Bobcats' run. A Saint Peter's blocking error gave Quinnipiac the set, 25-12.
SET FOUR: The Peacocks took a 4-1 lead to start the fourth set, but Quinnipiac fought back to tie it at 5-5. The Bobcats then took an 8-5 advantage, leading to a Saint Peter's timeout. Later in the set, a 6-1 run by SPU brought the Peacocks within one, 12-13. Several attack errors by the Bobcats helped keep Saint Peter's in reach as both teams found themselves in a 15-15 set. Multiple kills by Gonzalez Acevedo put the Peacocks up, 20-17. Quinnipiac tied it once again at 20-20, but shortly after, Marrero George put SPU up 23-21 with a kill. The Bobcats called a timeout to talk things over. After the timeout, Quinnipiac scored three points on serves and then won the set, 25-23, with a kill.
UP NEXT
Saint Peter's continues conference play next weekend with away matches against Niagara and Canisius. The Peacocks face off vs. the Purple Eagles on Friday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. ET and the Golden Griffs on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m.
