The volleyball team dropped three straight matches in the first University Athletic Association Round Robin Tournament, taking place at New York University this past weekend. They lost to NYU on Saturday, and on Sunday to Emory University and Brandeis University. In a round of play with UAA championship seed implications, the ‘Jackets faltered against some of their most important opponents of the season. The Yellowjackets now carry an overall record of 12-9.
On Saturday, the ‘Jackets fell to NYU in four games; the game scores were 30-24, 26-30, 17-30, 27-30. The Yellowjackets played two close games against NYU, separated by four points or less in each, but couldn’t get the equalizing points to get into position to win the match. Freshman setter Rachel Bender had 33 assists and 12 digs.
Junior outside hitter Jessica Rasmussen led the team with 19 digs in the match. Sophomore outside hitter Emily Hunter had 10 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Dana Hilfinger contributed with nine kills and fellow sophomore middle blocker Caitlin Hilliard added seven to the team total of 38 kills.
On Sunday, UR entered the second day of the round robin facing off with Emory and Brandeis, coming away empty handed and with a four-match losing streak. The Yellowjackets lost three straight games 24-30, 15-30 and 12-30 to Emory University, the team with the best record in the UAA. Freshman right side Maura Hamilton had nine digs and Hunter had four kills. After a losing effort versus Emory, the ‘Jackets looked to salvage the round with a match against Brandeis University, but Brandeis wouldn’t let that happen for UR. The Yellowjackets started off strong winning the first game 30-11. Then they lost the next three games 16-30, 20-30 and 20-30, giving Brandeis the win. Bender set things up for UR with 23 assists and 17 digs. Hunter led the team with 20 digs in the match. Freshman libero Katie Drinkwater had 17 digs. Hilfinger had 10 kills on the offensive end.
“We started off really strong in the first game. In the next three games, NYU really picked up their intensity and we struggled to stay with them,” senior middle blocker Ariel Edelson said. “Overall it was a tough weekend, but we are really looking forward to the next UAA weekend.”
The team is set to prepare for their next UAA meeting in less than two weeks.
“We definitely recognized areas that we need to improve in. These next two weeks we are going to spend working on playing as a team more and not as individuals as well as maintaining intensity throughout the games,” Edelson said.
The results from last weekend’s round robin and the upcoming match at Case Western Reserve University will be used to determine the seedings for the UAA championship hosted by UR on Nov. 2-3.
In addition to this weekend’s matches, the Yellowjackets dominated Elmira College on Wednesday night. UR beat the Soaring Eagles in three straight games 30-22, 30-26, 30-11 to curtail their four match losing streak.
UR plays this Friday and Saturday in the SUNY Fredonia tournament. They then play St. John Fisher at home in the Palestra on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Levy is a member of the class of 2008.
