When and Where: September 27, 2024 – Springfield, Mass. (Butova Gymnasium)
Match 1 Score: American International College 3, Southern New Hampshire University 0
Match 2 Score: University of Bridgeport 3, Southern New Hampshire University 0
Records: SNHU 3-8, AIC 2-6, UB 8-4

Senior Deanne Wilson (Buffalo, N.Y.) totaled 20 kills in a pair of matches Friday, but the Southern New Hampshire University women's volleyball team went 0-2 to begin the International Volleyball Hall of Fame East Region Clash. The Penmen dropped a three-set affair to host American International College in the opener, before also falling, 3-0, to the University of Bridgeport.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

• Wilson – 20 kills, 19 digs, 3 blocks
• Senior Julia Cavalcanti (Vineyard, Utah) – 10 kills, 3 aces, 5 blocks, 4 digs
• Senior Eyleen Dias (Plymouth, Mass.) – 30 digs, 2 aces, 7 assists
• Junior Ella Koelb (Auburn, N.H.) – 23 assists, 1 ace, 11 digs
• Freshman Addie Garn (Gilbert, Ariz.) – 23 assists, 1 ace, 8 digs, 3 blocks

KEY MOMENTS – AMERICAN INT'L MATCH

• Southern New Hampshire notched the first three points of the opening set and led, 12-11, but American Int'l responded by ripping off nine-in-a-row, including three kills from Carisa Michel, to open a 20-12 lead. The Penmen would score three of the next four, but the Yellow Jackets shut it down with four of the final five to go up, 1-0, in the match.
• SNHU again held a lead at 13-11 in the second, but AIC recorded six straight and 11 of the next 14 to seize a 22-16 advantage. The Penmen tried to rally with six of the next eight, but a Yellow Jacket kill made it 2-0.
• AIC built an early 8-3 lead in the third and SNHU would never get closer than three the rest of the way.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE – AMERICAN INT'L MATCH

• Set scores were 25-16, 25-22, 25-17.
• Wilson narrowly missed a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs.
• Sophomore Daya Jean-Baptiste (Miami, Fla.) recorded seven kills.
• Cavalcanti and sophomore Angela Mateos (Seville, Spain) each notched five kills.
• Garn tallied 23 assists and eight digs.
• Dias collected 13 digs.
• AIC outhit SNHU in all three sets, including .278-.103, overall.
• The Yellow Jackets also held a 9-2 advantage in blocks, while aces were even (4-4).

KEY MOMENTS – BRIDGEPORT MATCH

• Bridgeport was up, 24-23, and serving for set point in the first when SNHU flipped into the lead at 25-24. However, it could not finish off the Purple Knights, who secured three straight to go in front, 1-0.
• The Penmen were on top. 17-14, in the second when Bridgeport tallied up five consecutive points to go up by a pair. SNHU would eventually tie the match at 21 and again at 22, but the Purple Knights, again, scored the final three to make it 2-0.
• With the third stanza even at 11, Bridgeport struck for five straight and 12 of the next 16 to open a commanding 23-15 lead. SNHU would score four of the next five to trim the deficit, but a kill for the Purple Knights gave them the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE – BRIDGEPORT MATCH

• Set scores were 27-25, 25-22, 25-19.
• Wilson registered 11 kills and nine digs.
• Junior Caelan Cook (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.) recorded six kills on .455 hitting.
• Cavalcanti tallied five kills, two aces, four blocks and three digs.
• Dias collected 17 digs.
• Koelb handed out 21 assists and totaled up 10 digs.
• Sophomore Jaelyn Miles (Manchester, N.H.) posted four kills, two blocks and two digs.
• Junior Laura Haas (Londonderry, N.H.) chipped in three aces and four digs.
• Bridgeport outhit SNHU in all three sets, including .238- .118, overall.
• The Penmen owned 7-5 edges in both aces and blocks.

NOTES

• Southern New Hampshire had entered the day winning three of its last four.
• AIC has a 21-8 advantage in the all-time series with the Penmen. It has now won six of seven and nine of 11.
• Bridgeport leads the all-time series with SNHU, 16-4, and has captured 13-in-a-row. The last Penmen win in the series came Sept. 7, 2003 (3-2) at Bridgeport.

WHAT'S NEXT

• The Penmen wrap up their time in Springfield on Saturday (Sept. 28) at 4 p.m. against Saint Michael's College.
• SNHU is back home Friday, Oct. 4 (6 p.m.) when it plays host to Bentley University at the Stan Spirou Field House.

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