Volleyball Loses to Bridgeport in ECC Semifinals, 3-0

11/20/2015 10:25:00 PM

Box Score

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Nov. 20, 2015) - The fourth-seeded LIU Post volleyball team suffered a 3-0 loss (17-25, 19-25, 20-25) to top-seeded University of Bridgeport on Friday in the semifinals of the 2015 East Coast Conference Championship at Hubbell Gymnasium.

Junior middle hitter Taryn McCullouch (Buena Park, Calif.) slammed down a team-high 10 kills on a .400 attack percentage in the defeat. Senior setter/right-side hitter Monica Amador (Cedar Park, Texas) had seven kills. Senior middle hitter Melissa Hansen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and junior outside/right-side/middle hitter Analise Austin (Honolulu, Hawaii) tallied six kills apiece.

In the first two sets, the Pioneers (23-10) kept it close early, but the Purple Knights (24-8) pulled away late.

Tied 6-6 in the opening game, Bridgeport took the lead for good with a 9-3 run, forcing an LIU Post timeout. Senior outside hitter Sarah Rosa (Itajuba, Brazil) recorded back-to-back kills to cap the burst.

During the second set, the Pioneers and Purple Knights were knotted at 14-all, until a quick four-point spurt by Bridgeport gave the hosts all they needed to grab a 2-0 advantage in the match. Junior middle blocker/right-side hitter Frida Randen (Sodertalje, Sweden) notched back-to-back kills in the run, while Rosa rounded it out with an ace.

Despite hitting at a .378 clip in the third set, LIU Post lost by a score of 25-20 to conclude the contest. The Pioneers owned a slight 6-3 cushion in the game, off a kill by freshman setter Giulia Genna (Civitella San Paolo, Italy), who dished out 31 assists on the night.

However, the Purple Knights, behind a .475 attack percentage, rallied to win the set. UB eventually went in front 14-13 on a Randen kill and never relinquished the lead from there.

Head Coach Shellane Ogoshi and her LIU Post squad now await word on a potential at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Championship. The selection show will be aired live on Monday (Nov. 23) at 7:30 p.m. You can view it by clicking here.