Bay Path University Wins Thriller Opening Day Match

New Haven, Conn. - The Bay Path University "Wildcats" volleyball team fought a very tough Albertus Magnus College team for a season-opening five-set 3-2 win on Thursday night.

Game Basics:

Set One: Bay Path 25 | Albertus Magnus 19
Set Two: Albertus Magnus 25 | Bay Path 20
Set Three: Bay Path 25 | Albertus Magnus 23
Set Four: Albertus Magnus 26 | Bay Path 24
Set Five: Bay Path 15 | Albertus Magnus 7

FINAL SCORE: Bay Path 3 | Albertus Magnus 2
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (0-1) | Bay Path (1-0)

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Wildcats took the early 1-0 lead after the first set, topping the Falcons by a 25-19 final score.
• Albertus rebounded by taking the second set, 25-20, after owning a .150-to-.069 hitting percentage advantage.
• The even match continued in the third, with Bay Path winning the set, 25-23, to take a slim 2-1 lead.
• As it did all night, Albertus answered by executing an exciting comeback 26-24 victory in the fourth set to force a fifth.
• Unfortunately for the Falcons, the Wildcats caught fire late to secure a 15-7 victory in the fifth for a 3-2 win in the match.

TEAM HIGHS:

Bay Path:
• Anastasiya Tsetsko – 19 Kills
• Michelle Santiago – 20 Assists
• Lilly Kibbe – 5 Aces
• Beyhan Gonzalez – 23 Digs
• ZaLeah Gardner – 2 Blocks

Albertus Magnus:
• Diana Kalman – 14 Kills
• Rachael Pellegrini – 25 Assists
• Diana Kalman – 4 Aces
• Amanda Zdru (Stratford, Conn.) – 11 Digs
• Diana Kalman – 5 Blocks

NOTEWORTHY:

• Anastasiya Tsetsko begins her first year campaign with (19 kills, 4 digs)  
• KyLee Finch (Riverton, UT) 17 assists, ZaLeah Gardner (Raymondville, TX), Beyhan Gonzalez (Patillas, PR) 23 digs, Janaye Cunningham (Brentwood, NY) and Michelle Santiago (Springfield, Mass.) 20 assists all made their collegiate debuts tonight.
• The Wildcats improved to 8-6 in the all-time series against AMC.
• Rachael Pellegrini (Clinton, Conn.) set a new career-high with 25 assists tonight.

UP NEXT:

The Wildats will  return to the court on Friday, Sept. 2, for a home dual-match against John Jay College. Game time is 5:30 pm and & 7pm at the Longmeadow Adult Center, 211 Maple Road, Longmeadow, MA  01106

Credit: Albertus Magnus College Sports Information Department