Morristown, N.J.- The College of Saint Elizabeth's volleyball team opened the year with a 3-0 win over NJCU and a 3-1 win over John Jay.
In set 1 vs NJCU, the Eagles jumped out to an early 3-1 lead thanks to 2 unforced errors by NJCU. After 3 straight points by NJCU, Katie Cooper slammed a kill, giving the Eagles a 6-5 lead. After back to back unforced errors by each team, the Eagles found themselves all squared with NJCU at 9. Lynette Hardy put the Eagles out ahead with back to back service points to give the Eagles an 11-9 lead. Nicole Morera continued the quality serving for the Eagles, scoring 3 points and opening the lead to 16-11. Morera continued the onslaught for the Eagles, hitting a beautiful spike to give the Eagles a 21-13 lead. Team defense was the story of the first set as the Eagles opened up a 9 point lead. Leading 24-16, NJCU hit a service error, giving the Eagles the 1-0 lead.
The Eagles once again jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in set 2. Ayesha Brannon continued the Eagles success at serve, scoring 4 straight points and giving the Eagles an 8-3 lead. Despite NCJU cutting the lead to 10-7, the Eagles rallied off 4 straight points to open the lead to 7. The teams traded points for the next few points before Katie Cooper put a kill away, giving the Eagles an 18-12 lead. NJCU scored the next 2 points to cut into the lead at 18-14. Brannon, however, continued her successful serving, opening the Eagles lead back up to 21-14. The Eagles continued to play well on the offensive end, opening the lead to 24-16. The Eagles would win the next point and win the set 25-16.
The Eagles kept the pressure coming in the third set, opening up a 6-2 lead to start the set. NJCU would once again fight back, cutting the lead to 7-5. Nicole Morera continued her dominate serving, scoring 3 straight service points and giving the Eagles an 11-7 lead. CSE would continue to open up the lead, taking control of the game, 18-11. CSE would keep the pressure on, eventually winning the set 25-17, and winning the match 3-0.
In match 2 vs John Jay, the Eagles once again jumped out to an early 8-5 lead. The sister combination of Katie and Amy Cooper continued their stellar play for the Eagles, helping the lead rise to 14-10. The Eagles and John Jay would trade points for the remaining set before the Eagles took the last 2 points, to win the set 25-22. Katie Cooper got the Eagles going in the second set, serving back to back aces, giving the Eagles a 9-5 lead. John Jay would win the next few points to regain the lead at 14-12. John Jay would keep the lead the remainder of the set to tie things up at 1.
After winning the third set 25-14, the Eagles would jump out to a quick 5-1 lead in set 4. Morera and Brannon added back to back kills to give the Eagles a 13-8 lead. With the Eagles up 21-17, Katie Cooper set up a nice set to Morera, spiking home the point. The Eagles would add 4 more points, taking the set 25-20, and winning the match 3-1.
The Eagles return to action on Saturday when they host Old Westbury at 12 pm.
