Wildcats Handed Tough 3-2 Loss against Falcons

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Albertus Magnus women's volleyball team battled back from being down 2-1 to defeat the Bay Path College Wildcats 3-2 (17-25, 26-24, 24-26, 25-16, 17-15) in non-league action on Thursday night. The Wildcats were led by junior middle hitter Kate Bartels (Dalton, Mass.) who tallied the match-high 17 kills.

Bartels who notched a double double adding 14 digs had the match high in points at 17.0. Senior setter Ashley Provost (Ludlow, Mass.) handed out an impressive 44 assists in the loss. She chipped in 13 digs as well.

Freshman middle hitter Elizabeth Haylette (Terryville, Conn.) notched the Wildcats team high  .233 attack percentage with 12 kills. She also had two block solos. Defensively, sophomore defensive specialist Kacie Bayreuther (East Lyme, Conn.) led all players with 23 digs.

After falling in the first set 25-17, the Falcons fell behind 24-16 in the second set as the Wildcats were just one point away from jumping ahead in the match 2-0. Albertus had a different plan for the set as the Falcons, led by freshman Alyssa Puccilli (Wallingford, Conn.), put together a 12-0 run to take a 26-24 set victory. Puccilli served out the final nine points in the frame, which consisted of five hitting errors by the Wildcats.

The third set was close as well as Bay Path took the win by two at 26-24. With the Falcons up 24-23, Bay Path used two kills and a service ace to take the set victory.

Albertus answered immediately with a dominating 25-16 win in the fourth set to force the match into a fifth frame. Despite the Wildcats jumping out to an early 4-0 lead, the Falcons won the race to eight as they took an 8-7 lead thanks to a kill from Lily Dy (Torrington, Conn.).

After the teams changed sides, Albertus pushed its lead to 14-10 on a Nicole Acerra (East Haven, Conn.) kill. Bay Path fought back though and was able to tie the set at 14 before the Falcons clinched the victory. With the score tied at 15, a kill by freshman Kelsey Pendagast (Milford, Conn.) and an attacking error by Bay Path's freshman right side Amber Cohens (Hamden, Conn.) secured the Falcons' 17-15 final. Cohens finished with eight kills.

Krista LaBissoniere (Meriden, Conn.) dished out 23 assists for the Falcons and had 15 digs, while Acerra added a team-high 18 digs. Pendagast registered a team-best eight kills on the night as well.

For the Wildcats, it was just their second loss of the season as they move to 3-2 on the year, while Albertus Magnus improves to 4-3 on the season. Bay Path travels to New York to play a tri-match at host Bard also facing SUNY Purchase on Saturday, September 15^th.