Volleyball Loses to Connecticut

Sunday, November 5

Syracuse, N.Y.

2:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Connecticut

April Quigley finished two digs shy of a triple-double

11/5/2006 4:55:53 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse lost a close match to Connecticut 3-1 (30-26, 30-20, 27-30, 36-34). The Orange was playing without three regular starters, Cheryl Cobbina, Emily Kaier and Kacie MacTavish, due to illness and injury.

“We played well considering we were down players,” said assistant coach Carol Munger. “The girls stepped it up, we never gave up and we were right in there until the end.”

Freshman Annabelle Pellerin led the team with a career-best 19 kills, topping her previous personal-best by 13 kills. She also set a career-high with eight digs and recorded an attack percentage of .486. Classmate Samantha Ainsworth recorded a personal-best 15 kills and sophomore April Quigley was two digs shy of a triple-double, finishing with a career-best 10 kills (.588 attack percentage), 50 assists and eight digs. Freshman Sarah Morton added nine kills and five block assists. Junior Joscie Kaup posted a match-high 24 digs.

The Orange (11-22, 5-8 BIG EAST) honored its lone senior before the match, Erin McQuillin. McQuillin played in her final match on SU’s campus and recorded five kills, three total blocks and two assists.

The first game was closely contested until Connecticut (17-10, 6-6 BIG EAST) scored six of seven points to take a 23-17 lead. Syracuse fought back and tied the game at 26 but the Huskies responded by scoring the game’s final four points to take a 1-0 advantage. The Orange led 10-8 in the second game but the Huskies went on a 9-3 run to take a four-point advantage. Connecticut scored five-straight points later in the game en route to the 10-point victory.

The Orange responded in the third game, which was tightly contested throughout. Trailing 20-19, SU scored five of the next six points to grab a three-point advantage. Ainsworth recorded a kill to pull the Orange within one game. Connecticut started the fourth game strong, jumping to an early 10-4 lead. The Orange continued to fight and eventually squared the game at 20. Neither team gained more than a two-point advantage the rest of the way. Syracuse had three chances to win the game before Connecticut won the game on its fourth chance.

Syracuse will wrap up its season next weekend, playing Fordham on Friday, Long Island on Saturday and Seton Hall on Sunday.