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Volleyball team improves to 10-4 at home

Ben MartinSports Writer

Despite a couple of weeks stretch where the volleyball team was hit with COVID-19 and injuries, losing seven players, they defeated the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights 3-0 on Tuesday, Sept. 20th.   

“It has been a rough week with illness and injury, and they really came together strong tonight to get a good win,” Owls’ head coach, Lisa Barbaro, said. “So practicing and having everybody there has been kind of tough lately.”   

The shortage of players affected many aspects of the Owls’ preparation going into the game against the Purple Knights, including where players were placed in practices.   

“COVID affected everything because we did not have enough girls for every position,” Owls’ setter and defensive specialist, Taylor Jones said.   

The Owls took the first set 25-22, the second one 25-21 and the third 25-16.  

Most of the points came from what proved to be a valuable connection between junior Taylor Jones and outside hitter Gabriela Gaibur senior.  

The two connected for 11 points with Gaibur scoring the most out of any Owls player.   

“I couldn’t have done it without my setter,” Gaibur said. “Taylor was having a really good game.”   

Gaibur added that passes overall were on target and were a big key to the win. Jones agreed with Gaibur saying that the team had a lot of good swing passes. Jones also said that the offense was executed well because of the team’s great passing.   

Jones had an important role in the passing attack, playing a point guard-like role ending the night with 34 assists.  

The Bridgeport game was Jones’ second game of the season with over 30 assists, and fourth game in a row with over 15 assists.   

“I’m pretty excited because I have been waiting for that and we all played really well,” Jones said.   

Juniors Sara Enright and Kacey Deecher both posted double digit figures in kills.  

Additionally, freshman Aubrey Villena had 20 digs and Deecher, Enright and Gaibur had over 10 digs.   

“I’m really happy with how our offense was executed,” Jones said. “I thought we had a lot of really good swings and plays we normally struggle with. We did really well tonight.”   

Gaibur agreed with Jones, adding that the team had been executing everything they  worked on in practice, and for her that led to a sense of pride.   

Defeating the Purple Knights was an important win for the Owls, as their next game starts in conference play.  

The next game for the Owls is on the road against fellow Northeast 10 Conference team the Le Moyne College Dolphins.   

“We play Le Moyne on Saturday,” Gaibur said. “We beat them two weeks ago, so I think if we just play our game and execute how we’ve been playing, then we will do fine.” 

The Owls  defeated the Dolphins last season. 

.According to Barbaro, the team is starting to come together at the right time 

“We haven’t gone on the road much this season at all, so it’s a challenge, but I feel confident and ready,” Coach Barbaro said.   

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