JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Saint Peter's volleyball team (3-4) fell to Seton Hall (4-3) in four sets (25-22, 26-28, 22-25, 16-25) at Run Baby Run Arena on Wednesday, marking the Peacocks' first match at home all season.
The Peacocks looked solid early in front of a big crowd, but as the match progressed, Seton Hall started to take control. Despite the defeat, the team rallied together and fought to the end without one of their most impactful players,
Valeria Pagan Munoz.
Jaizahir Marrero George stepped up in her place and had a solid outing for Saint Peter's with 10 kills.
Sibana González Acevedo once again led the team in kills with 15.
Drew Leonardis also turned some heads, making plays left and right when the Peacocks needed her most. She made several challenging digs throughout the match and finished with seven total.
The Peacocks have a week-and-a-half break before their next competition, when they take on Morgan State at home on Friday, Sept. 19.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE: Both teams went back and forth to start set one, but early on it looked as if Seton Hall had the advantage. The Pirates held a 12-9 lead over the Peacocks, but kills by Gonzalez Acevedo and Rodriguez Mendez helped SPU get right back in it. Saint Peter's took a lead, 17-16, after Fargas picked up a rare kill later in the set. Seton Hall responded with three straight points to regain the lead at 19-17. The Peacocks then went on a 4-0 scoring run to take a 21-19 advantage. SPU reached set point on an attack error and then won the set, 25-22, after an ace from Gonzalez Acevedo.
SET TWO: The second set was competitive from start to finish as neither team held a lead larger than three points. In the middle of the set, Seton Hall led 16-14 before both teams kept trading points to a 19-18 Pirates lead. The Peacocks surrendered back-to-back kills but responded greatly with five straight points. Consecutive kills by Marrero George put Saint Peter's up 23-21. Down the stretch, Seton Hall stormed back to tie things up at 26-26. A Saint Peter's attack error led to set point for the Pirates. The Pirates then took set two, 28-26, with a kill.
SET THREE: The Peacocks found themselves trailing, 0-4, to start set three, but they quickly worked their way back to trail by one, 5-6. A service ace from Rodriguez tied things up at 8-8. Seton Hall then scored back-to-back points to regain the lead 10-8. As the set progressed, things stayed close as a Peacocks block tied it at 14-14. Following a successful challenge, the Peacocks tied it up again at 15-all. The tie continued to 18-18 before three unanswered points put Seton Hall up late in the set. Out of a timeout,
Elena Bilhartz picked up her fourth kill while putting an end to the Pirates' scoring streak. The Pirates managed to hold onto the lead for the rest of the set, taking set three 25-22.
SET FOUR: Once again, Saint Peter's and Seton Hall jumped out to a highly competitive start in set four as both teams fought to a 7-7 tie. After surrendering four points in a row, the Peacocks decided to talk things over with a timeout. The Pirates came out of the timeout and extended their scoring run to eight for a 19-12 lead. The Peacocks couldn't pull off the comeback as Seton Hall won the set, 25-16, and the match, 3-1.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks will stay at home for their next match against Morgan State on Friday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be Saint Peter's Heritage Game, celebrating the community's cultural, historical and natural heritage.
NOTES
The Peacocks are 4-8 all-time vs. the Pirates and 2-2 against them at home…Saint Peter's two home wins over Seton Hall came in 1998 and 2000 (both 3-0 sweeps)…the Pirates have won the last four matchups between the two teams.
