WORCESTER, Mass. – The Southern Connecticut volleyball team pulled out a gritty five-set victory over Assumption University, 3-2, at Laska Gymnasium. With the win, the Owls improved to 11-7 overall and 1-2 in the Northeast 10, while the Greyhounds fell to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the NE10.
 
Set Scores:
Set 1: SCS 25, ASM 22
Set 2: ASC 26, SCS 24
Set 3: SCS 25, ASM 13
Set 4: ASM 28, SCS 26
Set 5: SCS 15, ASM 10
 

Match Leaders
The Owls had several players contribute to the power on offense and defense. Senior Gabriela Gaibur (Monroe, N.Y) continued to showcase her cannon with a career-high 25 kills and added 21 digs on offense along with three aces and four blocks. Senior Payton Reis (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) notched a career-high 17 kills, while chipping in six blocks on defense. Junior setter Taylor Jones (Middletown, N.Y.) dazzled in the play making position with 51 assists and 11 digs. Junior Sara Enright (Yorba Linda, Calif.) had a night on both ends with 14 kills and 18 digs. Junior Kacey Deecher (Granby, Mass.) continued her steady play and contributed 20 digs on defense and added seven kills and three blocks. First year libero Aubrey Villena (San Diego, Calif.) dug out 26 balls, while grad student Heliceliz Rivera (Corozal, Puerto Rico) contributed in all areas with seven kills, four assists, four digs, four blocks, and an ace.

How It Happened

• After jumping out to a 7-3 lead in the first set, the Owls gave of six of the next seven points to Assumption for the lead. Both sides jostled with the lead, but at 10-10, Southern grabbed four of six points to take a two-point lead. That small run proved to be the difference maker as the Greyhounds fell short in their attempt to notch the equalizing points. Southern went on to win the first set by three.
• Another tight set ensued in the second. Both teams continued their push-and-pull attempts to hold the lead. Neither led by more than two points at any given time, but the Greyhounds managed to capitalize on two late-set errors by the Owls to make the match score tied at one.
• The Owls came out hotter in the third set with a 9-3 run to start. After the Greyhounds came within three, Southern rattled off five-straight points to lead by eight. Assumption again tried to claw their way back in it, but the Owls snagged eight of the next nine points to take a commanding 12-point lead. Any other efforts by Assumption were halted as the Owls sailed to a 12-point set victory.
• The fourth set was a familiar occurrence as both teams were fighting for the lead. At 18-18, the Owls took four of the next five points and had the lead by three. Assumption responded and tied it with five of the next seven points to tie it at 24. Both sides traded points, but the Greyhounds equalized the match score with three-straight points to finish the set.
• Assumption seemingly had the upper hand in the fifth and final set. With a 6-4 start for the Greyhounds, the Owls ignited for five-straight points to capture the lead, 9-6. Assumption stayed with Southern, eventually getting the score to 11-10, but the Owls pressed on for the final four points to seal the five-set conference victory on the road.

 
 
Notes

• Payton Reis picked up a career-high 17 kills. Her previous career-high was 11 kills on Sept. 9, 2022, against Le Moyne. She also tied a career-high in total blocks with six.
• Taylor Jones recorded her first 50-plus game this season, which is also her 11th double-digit assist game with 51 assists.
• Jones also tallied her fifth double-double (17th career) with 51 assists and 11 digs.
• Gabriela Gaibur tallied a career-high 25 kills. Her previous career-high was 22 against Caldwell on Aug. 30, 2022.
• Gaibur recorded her eighth double-double of the season (35th career) with 25 kills and 21 digs.
• Aubrey Villena tallied a career-high 26 digs with her previous career-high being 24 against Queens on Sept. 10, 2022.
• Sara Enright collected her ninth double-double with 14 kills and 18 digs.
• This was just the third five-set match for the Owls so far this season. 

Up Next
The Owls are set to travel to Manchester, N.H. on Saturday, Oct. 1 for a NE10 Conference matchup against Southern New Hampshire University.