BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Senior Alyssa Gage (Beverly Hills, Fla.) had game-highs of 16 kills and eight blocks, while junior Gabriela Vazquez (Meriden, Conn.) posted 15 kills and eight digs, but the Southern Connecticut State University volleyball team lost its 2018 season opener at Bridgeport today, 3-1.
 
SET SCORES: 18-25, 23-25, 25-13, 22-25
TEAM RECORDS: SCSU 0-1 | Bridgeport 1-0

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
- In addition to their respective kill totals, Gage and Vazquez both connected at a .333 hitting percentage on the day.
- Leanna Jadus (Long Beach, Calif.) posted eight kills and 10 digs.
- Anna Venard (Thornton, Colo.) recorded a game-high 21 digs.
- Freshman Kailyn O'Neal (Katy, Texas) registered a game-high 37 assists in her collegiate debut, along with nine digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Bridgeport scored the first three points in game one and jumped out to a 9-3 lead before a SCSU timeout. The Owls rallied to pull back within two points on three separate occasions, but would get no closer in the game.
- The Owls took a 5-3 advantage early in game two, but UB scored nine of the next 12 points to take a 12-8 lead and force a SCSU timeout. Trailing 20-15, the Owls rattled off seven straight points for a 22-20 advantage. However, the Purple Knights used a late surge to take the second game.
- Southern rolled to the game three win on the heels of a 7-1 start. The lead eventually ballooned to double digits and was capped by a 12-point win.
- The lead went back and forth in the early stages of the fourth and final game. Trailing 12-11, UB scored four in a row to take the lead for good. The Owls climbed within two late but the hosts hung on for the win.
 
UP NEXT: vs. Dominican (10:30 a.m.) and Nyack (6 p.m.), Saturday