Last Week: The Albertus Magnus College women's volleyball team went 0-4 in non-conference action last week, falling on the road to New Jersey City, at home against in-state rival Mitchell and at the Smith College Invitational to both Bryn Mawr and the host Pioneers. After starting the year 2-0, Albertus Magnus has dropped five straight matches. In the contest against the Mariners at home, the Falcons fell in five sets. In the deciding frame, the Falcons would battle back to pull within three at 11-8 before Mitchell scored the final four points of the match to earn the victory.
This Week: The Falcons have a pair of matches this week, traveling to face Eastern Connecticut State in midweek, non-conference action before hosting Simmons on Saturday in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener for both squads.
Match-up:
Albertus Magnus (2-5) at Eastern Connecticut State (7-2)
Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 7:00 PM
Willimantic, Conn.
Geissler Gymnasium
Live Video: Click here (All links will become active at the start of the contest)
Last Fall Against the Warriors: Eastern Connecticut State blanked Albertus Magnus, 3-0, last September at home in the first meeting between the two programs since 1981. Ana Gomez led the charge for the Falcons with five kills, while Amber Cohens added four of her own.
Match-up:
Albertus Magnus vs. Simmons (1-3)
Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 11:00 am
New Haven, Conn.
The Nest inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center
Live Stats: Click here
Last Year Versus the Sharks: Simmons took down Albertus Magnus, 3-0, last October in Boston. As a team, the Falcons had 12 kills, three service aces and 39 digs.
NOTES:
- Last week, Gomez was named to the All-Tournament at the Smith College Invitational. Through seven games this fall she leads the team in kills with 44 and is tied for the team high in blocks (4 solo, 4 assist).
- In the non-conference setback at home versus Mitchell, freshman outside hitter Ashley David had a career-high 13 kills to go along with four digs and one ace at the service line.
- In the middle, junior Marielis Muriel is doing a good job distributing the ball, racking up 121 of the team's 141 assists.
- Defensively, Cohens had a team-best 6 solo blocks. Freshman libero Nashalie Bayona leads the team with 68 digs, while classmate Jesselle Guzman and Muriel have added 66 and 65, respectively.
- The team has four returners and five newcomers this season.
- Seven of the team's first eight games will take place outside of New Haven. Last year, the squad picked up four wins away from home.
