Bobcats drop second straight NEC contest

Bobcats drop second straight NEC contest

By Michael Desjardins, QBSN Staff Writer

           

The Quinnipiac women’s volleyball team lost 3-2 to Central Connecticut State in an NEC match-up Sunday.  It was the Bobcats’ second straight loss and their fourth in five games.     

The first set was competitive, as the two teams traded leads seven times early on before the Blue Devils broke out, scoring four points in a row. However, the Bobcats mounted a comeback late in the set and tied the game 23-23. The set was forced into extra points, but Quinnipiac took the set 27-25.

In the second set, Quinnipiac dominated early, scoring the first seven of eight points.  At one point, the team led by seven points. However, Central Connecticut attempted a late comeback of its own, scoring five straight to tie the game at 24-24.  Mirroring the first set, the Bobcats again managed to hold on, winning 27-25.

Despite the strong start, the Bobcats lost steam by the third set. They fell behind very early and couldn’t catch up. At one point, the Blue Devils scored 10 straight points to lead the set, 20-7. The Bobcats would try another comeback, scoring the next seven of 10 points. In the end though, the Blue Devils would win the third set 25-17.

“Central Connecticut is a good team,” Quinnipiac head coach Robin Sparks said.  “You knew that had a lot of maturity, far more maturity than we have on the floor. We just started over-thinking and got away from just playing. When they over-think it, that’s when they get themselves in trouble.”

In the fourth set, it was more of the same. Quinnipiac fell early and failed to regain its footing. It began competitively, despite the Bobcats never once taking the lead. At the end of the set, however, the Blue Devils recorded the final eight of 11 points to win the set, 25-15.

In the final set, the Blue Devils broke out early, recording the first four points. The Bobcats remained persistent, scoring the next five of eight points. In the end, though, Central Connecticut came out on top, 15-12.

Junior Taylor Payne (Warwick, N.Y.) and sophomore Olivia Grattan (Pittsburgh, Pa) led the team in kills with 11 apiece. Payne also led the team in blocks with three. Sophomore Tracy Wright (Fair Lawn, New Jersey) had a game-high 30 digs.

With the loss, Quinnipiac falls to 3-9 in NEC-conference games, and 4-21 overall. Central Connecticut is now 16-8, and 7-4 in NEC-conference match-ups.

Quinnipiac plays its final two home games of the regular season on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. against Sacred Heart and Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m., against Fairleigh Dickinson.