WestConn opens season with 3-0 win at St. Joseph College (CT)

BOX SCORE

WEST HARTFORD, CT (Sep 3) – St. Joseph College junior outside hitter Catherine Irwin (Barkhamstead, Conn.) registered seven kills but the Blue Jays fell to visiting Western Conn. State University, 3-0, in non-conference play tonight in the O’Connell Center on the campus of St. Joseph College.

The Blue Jays (0-1) jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage on an Irwin kill but the Colonials (1-0) came back with four straight points to set the tempo early.

The visitors would continue to lead and push the score to 12-6 on a kill by junior middle hitter Rebecca Stein (Kingston, N.Y.).

WestConn sophomore outside hitter Kara Maciangioli (Harwinton, Conn.) would later serve five straight points to give the Colonials a 20-11 advantage and cruise to the 25-14 opening set victory.

The second game was a serving clinic for Stein as she gave the visitors a 14-7 cushion with six consecutive service points including five straight aces.

The Blue Jays struggled on offense in game two as the visitors took a 25-11 set and a 2-0 match lead. In the final game, the Blue Jays took advantage of WestConn errors to hang around in the early going, 9-6, but the Colonials were just too strong down the stretch and controlled the game to close out the match 25-14.

For the visitors, Stein recorded six aces on the day to go along with eight kills while junior setter Dezarhae Hymes (Kingston, N.Y.) tallied 11 assists.

The Blue Jays were led by Irwin’s seven kills while senior setter Antoinette Marciano (South Windsor, Conn.) totaled 15 assists.

The Blue Jays will look to bounce back on Saturday, Sept. 6 when they host Mass. College of Liberal Arts; the Colonials will host their own invitational this weekend.