NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Southern Connecticut volleyball team defeated Caldwell University, 3-1, at Pelz Gymnasium. With the win, the Owls moved to 4-1 overall, while the Cougars moved to 1-2.
Senior
Gabriela Gaibur (Monroe, N.Y.) led the way for the Owls in their four-set victory with 22 kills and 21 digs, while swinging .514. Sophomore setter
Lily Miller (Ottawa, Ill.) put her playmaking abilities on full display with a game-high 55 assists and added 12 digs.
Sara Enright (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and
Sydney Bennett (Marietta, Ga.) helped contribute to the offense as Enright knocked down 16 kills and grabbed 15 digs on defense, and Bennett snagged 10 kills and contributed four blocks on defense. First year player
Aubrey Villena (San Diego, Calif.) was solid in the libero position with 16 digs for the Owls.
Set Scores
Set 1: SCS 25, CAL 16
Set 2: CAL 25, SCS 23
Set 3: SCS 25, CAL 17
Set 4: SCS 25, CAL 15
- Set one started as a footrace with both teams trading points. The Owls put the pressure on and rattled off a 7-1 run to give them a six-point lead. Caldwell countered with four of the next six points, but Southern responded with four-straight points to put the set out of reach. The Owls maintained at least a five-point lead the rest of the way and took the first set by nine.
- After the Owls grabbed four of the first five points in set two, Caldwell went on a 10-3 to claim the lead by four. Southern picked up three quick points to come within one, but the Cougars continued the offensive pressure with nine of the next 13 points and took a 21-15 lead. The Owls recorded the next five points, thanks to two Gaibur kills and two Dylan Marney (Memphis, Tenn.) service aces, to come within one. Caldwell edged Southern 5-4 through the remainder of the set to even the score.
- The third set saw both teams try to carry momentum from prior sets. After Caldwell took a 5-4 lead, Southern erupted with a commanding 13-1 run. Caldwell's attempts to climb back were halted as Bennett and Gaibur combined for five kills to help lead the Owls to an eight-point victory.
- In the final set, both teams were back-and-forth to start. At 6-6, the Owls broke the ice with an 8-1 run behind three kills from Gaibur. Caldwell tried to find their offense, but the early push from Southern was too big a mountain to climb for the Cougars as the Owls went on to seal the match by 10 points in the fourth set.
Notes
- Gabriela Gaibur notched a career-high 22 kills, which is tied for second all-time with Lauren McVey, Nicole Hauser, Leanna Jadus, and Alyssa Gage.
- Gaibur also recorded her second double-double of the season and the second 20-20 game of her career. Her first 20-20 game came against Franklin Pierce on October 22, 2021 when she had her then-career-high 21 kills and 20 digs.
- Lily Miller recorded a career-high 55 assists against Caldwell and a career-high 12 digs. This was Miller's second career double-double. Her first came against Stonehill on October 5, 2021 when she had 13 assists and 11 digs.
- Miller's 55 assists are tied for second all-time with Kimberly Lachowicz in single-game assists.
- Aubrey Villena tallied a career-high 16 digs, which is the first double-digit dig game of her career.
- Sydney Bennett recorded a career-high four blocks and a career-high 10 kills.
- Sara Enright recorded her fourth double-double of the season and topped a career-high in kills.
Up Next
The Owls continue their home stand with a tri-match on Friday, September 2 when they host Molloy College and Post University at Pelz Gymnasium before hitting the road for their first set of matches on Saturday, September 3.
