Box Score Sept. 11, 2009
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| Fordham vs. Manhattan Highlights
Bronx, NY - The Ninth Annual Rose Hill Classic commenced in an auspicious fashion for Fordham Volleyball this afternoon, as the Rams defeated cross-Bronx rivals Manhattan College in four sets at Rose Hill Gym. Set scores were 25-15, 12-25, 25-11, and 25-17, respectively.
The Rams started out strong, taking the first set 25-15 with the help of three kills on six attempts by junior co-captain Christi Griffiths and a 5-0 run early in the set with Megan Arend serving.
Following a second set lull in which the Rams registered only 12 points, Fordham started off the third set in a more accustomed manner, jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead after a Kim Capicotto service ace. Juniors Katie Wells and Kailee May combined for eight total kills in a third set that saw the Rams hit an astounding .414 with three aces (Capicotto, May and Arend).
After a back and forth beginning to the fourth set, the Rams once again showed the success of the third; as they hit .324 as a team, lead by Kailee May's six kills and eight digs from Megan Arend.
May would go on to hit a game high 14 kills in the match, while sophomore setter Kim Capicotto recorded a game high 39 assists and sophomore libero Megan Arend tallied a team high 18 digs.
For Manhattan, Diane Strutner and Jaci Rahey each had 11 kills and Julie Bies led the Jaspers with 18 digs.
Seton Hall vs. Sacred Heart Recap
Seton Hall W, 3-1 Box Score
In the second of nine matches scheduled for this weekend's 9th Annual Rose Hill Classic, the Pirates of Seton Hall University upended the Sacred Heart University Pioneers in four sets. Set scores were 25-20, 28-26, 21-25 and 25-23, respectively.
Seton Hall looked like the better team early in the first set, forcing the Pioneers to call a timeout after two consecutive service aces by freshman Olivia Trudeau which made the score 12-7 in favor of the Pirates. The Pioneers never recovered, dropping the set 25-20 on one of Sarah Osmun's 14 kills.
Sacred Heart began to show signs of life in the second set, but the Pirates once again proved to be too much, downing the Pioneers in an extended set by the score of 28-26.
Down 18-13 in the third set, the Pioneers looked as though their first match at the Rose Hill Classic would be ending in straight sets. But after scoring 12 of the next 15 points, Sacred Heart took the third set and ended the Pirates' hopes of a quick victory.
A hard fought third set did not prove to be enough, however, for the Pioneers, as Seton Hall closed the fourth set on a Meghan Matusiak kill and, in turn, won the match by a score of three games to one.
Manhattan vs. Central Connecticut State Recap
Manhattan W, 3-0 Box Score
In the third match-up of the tournament, Manhattan bounced back from the defeat handed to them earlier in the day by Fordham by sweeping Central Connecticut State in three straight sets. Set scores were 25-21, 25-20 and 25-23, respectively.
The Jaspers enjoyed a five point lead with the score at 16-10 in the first set thanks to two of Aurore Kullak's six match kills while Laura Bellotti pitched in two aces in the stretch. Manhattan kept a comfortable lead until Central Connecticut went on an 8-2 run fueled by two Emily Cochran kills. But in the end, the Jaspers composed themselves and put away the first set 25-21.
Central Connecticut woke up in the second set as the Blue Devils matched every Jasper move as there were ten tied scores leading up to a 16-16 mark. Manhattan was finally able to shake the pesky Blue Devils off as they tallied up the final nine points needed for the win while only giving up four points to Central Connecticut.
Manhattan was able to keep Central Connecticut away for the first half of the third set, but the Blue Devils would not go away quietly, bringing the game to within one at 20-19 on a kill by Sara Delacy. It looked like the Jaspers were going to pull away as they held the edge of a 24-21 score, but two quick Blue Devils points threatened to extend the set into extended play. Not wanting to continue the match past regulation, Manhattan's Rita Welsh closed out the game with her team leading 13th kill to put the Jaspers over the Blue Devils, 25-23.
Seton Hall vs. Fordham Recap
Fordham W, 3-1 Box Score | Highlights vs. Seton Hall | Photo Gallery
In the final match on day one, Fordham's Kailee May knocked out a career-high 20 kills, while Kim Capicotto recorded her first career double-double, as the Rams topped Seton Hall in four sets. Final set scores were 28-26, 23-25, 25-21, and 25-21.
Set one went down to the wire with a total of 14 tie scores. At 23 all, Fordham got a set point off a Seton Hall error, but Seton Hall's Rachael Thornquist knotted the set at 24 with a kill. After another Fordham set point on a May kill, Thornquist recorded back-to-back kills, giving Seton Hall their first set point at 26-25. Fordham then rallied for three straight points to capture the set, 28-26, with the final point on a Katie Wells kill.
In set two, the two teams again played fairly even with the score knotted late at 22. The Pirates then got set point following a kill by Meghan Matusiak and a Fordham error. After a point by Fordham, Seton Hall closed out the set, 25-23, on a Matusiak kill.
Fordham rebounded early in the third set. With the score tied at six, the Rams went on a 7-1 run to jump out to a 13-7 advantage. Fordham would comfortably hold on to that lead in the set, winning it 25-21, led by four kills by May.
In set four, Fordham led by as many seven points, before Seton Hall rallied to within one, 22-21. The Rams however stayed strong, scoring the final three points on a block and kills by May and Christi Griffiths to close out the match, 25-21.
Besides May, Capicotto finished with 45 assists and 12 digs, while Sara Friede added 12 kills and nine digs. Griffiths and Wells each had eight kills with Megan Arend having 16 digs.
Seton Hall's Thornquist and Sarah Osmun each had 13 kills to lead the Pirate attack.
