Volleyball Falls To NYIT, 3-2, In ECC Semifinals

11/22/2013 10:57:00 PM

Box Score

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Nov. 22, 2013) - The LIU Post women's volleyball team lost in five sets on Friday night to NYIT in the semifinals of the East Coast Conference Championship, held at Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium in Bridgeport, Conn.

With the loss, the Pioneers fell to 22-9 overall, including an 11-5 clip in league play.

LIU Post took control early in the first set by rattling off eight straight points to take an 8-1 lead. The Pioneers capitalized on attack errors by the Bears, while junior middle blocker Heather Adams (Centerville, Ohio) tallied two kills, and freshman outside hitter Shelby McCool (Eugene, Ore.) added one. With the green and gold up 19-15, LIU Post closed out the first set on a 7-4 run to take it, 25-19.

In the second set, the Bears jumped out early and gained a 12-6 advantage after a kill by Shelby Cable. The Pioneers battled back but couldn't get closer than that as NYIT (26-6) continued to pull away, taking the second set, 25-18.

In the third set, the Pioneers only lead of the set came by scoring the first point of the match when Adams recorded a kill off an assist from junior setter Lulu Centro (Rome, Italy). The Bears rattled off six straight points and led 16-7 before the Pioneers made a comeback. LIU Post went on a 14-7 run to get within one at 23-22, but the Bears scored the last two points to take the set, 25-22, and grab a 2-1 advantage.

In set No. 4, the two teams traded points throughout. All tied at 15, the green and gold went on a 10-5 run to win, 25-20, and tie the match at two. The run was highlighted by three kills from senior middle blocker Makamae Namahoe (Hilo, Hawaii). McCool closed out the set with two straight kills off Centro assists.

In the fifth and deciding set, NYIT jumped out to a 7-0 lead before the Pioneers battled back to pull within three at 8-5. However, the Bears closed out the match on a 6-4 run, coming away with the 15-9 win to take the fifth set and the match, 3-2.

Overall, McCool led all players with 18 kills, while Namahoe added 13 kills and 15 digs. For the Bears, Cable paved the way with 17 kills. Marija Jovanovic amassed 18 digs.