New Hampshire Sweeps Bobcats

New Hampshire Sweeps Bobcats
By Taylor Massey, QBSN Staff Writer

        After being defeated in a three set match Yale earlier today, Quinnipiac returned to their home court tonight to take on the University of New Hampshire Wildcats.

           

        The Wildcats proved to be an even match-up as neither team held a strong lead in the first set. The Bobcats trailed by only a few points for most of the first set before keeping a tied score up until the final points of the set. The Wildcats eventually took the first set in a narrow 26-24 win.

           

        The second set began just as competitively with both teams continuously getting points on the board. Again, New Hampshire managed to hold a slim lead over Quinnipiac. As the set went on Wildcats increased their lead, 22-15, over the Bobcats, then finally winning the second set, 24-15.

           

        During a pre-game interview coach Robin Sparks noted the Bobcats have been playing with a new line-up as a result of several injuries on the team. Junior Logan Riker and Freshman Tierra Allen were both out for tonight’s game.

           

      QU took an immediate lead over the Wildcats at the beginning of the third set with Freshman Brittanie Robinson scoring the first point. They let their early lead slip away as New Hampshire fired back with some powerful kills.

          

        The match ended in a sweep with New Hampshire taking the final match 25-17. New Hampshire Senior Amy Keding lead the team in kills, recording six of her 10 kills in the first set.

           

       On the Bobcats side, Freshman Tanner Celestin also started out strong earning nine kills in the first set and bringing it to a team high 13 kills by the end of the match. Celestin was covering for the injured Allen. Coach Sparks attributes some of their weaknesses to the new line-up saying “There are some young girls out there in new positions that aren’t exactly sure where they should be”.

           

       Despite loosing in a sweep, the Bobcats had a strong start before the energy was lost. Junior Taylor Payne is focused on keeping the energy consistent in future games. In a post-game interview she states “We need to find a way to conserve that energy and keep that fight going”.

           

      This game leaves Quinnipiac with a 1-12 record. The Bobcats have some time before their next game on September 25^th against Central Connecticut. They’ll be able to utilize this time to strengthen their new line-up.