NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College women's volleyball team lost a 3-1 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match to Johnson and Wales on Tuesday evening at the Cosgrove, Marcus, Messer Athletic Center.

THE BASICS

Johnson and Wales 3 | Albertus Magnus 1

Set 1: Johnson and Wales 25, Albertus Magnus 18

Set 2: Johnson and Wales 25, Albertus Magnus 16

Set 3: Albertus Magnus 25, Johnson and Wales 21

Set 4: Johnson and Wales 25, Albertus Magnus 16

Box

RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (4-8, 0-3 GNAC) | Johnson and Wales (3-7, 1-0 GNAC)

HIGHLIGHTS

Johnson and Wales jumped out to a 3-0 lead early on and increased the lead to 13-5 before a 7-1 run for the Falcons got them within two. The Panthers committed four attack errors to get Albertus back into it and Majo Pelaez (Armenia, Colombia) and Nathalie Wallace (Rocky Hill, Conn.). The Panthers took their biggest lead at 22-12, but once again more errors from the Panthers gave the Falcons life. However, Kills from Sarah Miller and Myla Domazet gave the Panthers the set.

In set two, the Panthers never trailed once again. The Falcons had aces from Shalese Gordon (Bridgeport, Conn.) and Paula Matheus (Tunja-Boyaca, Colombia). Peyton Oliver had three kills for Johnson and Wales.

The Falcons crept back into the match in a set three win after jumping out to a 4-0 lead as Alyssa Valentine (Bristol, Conn.) had back-to-back aces and Yarelis Torres (East Haven, Conn.) and Joismar Aviles (Hatillo, Puerto Rico) each had a kill. The Panthers got their first lead of the set on a kill from Oliver, but the Falcons responded with kills from Colleen Edwards (Clinton, Conn.) and Elizabeth Lynch (Stratford, Conn.) put the Falcons back up two. The set was tied up at 18-18 again, but a 7-4 run from the Falcons closed out the set as the Panthers committed six errors through the rest of the set.

In the final set, the Panthers led by as much as ten points as the Falcons never threatened.  Five different players had kills for the Falcons, with Pelaez leading the team in the set with two. The Panthers had 15 kills and a .375 attack percentage in the final frame after not reaching better than .083 the first three sets.

TEAM LEADERS
Albertus

Majo Pelaez - 7 kills

Alyssa Valentine and Shalese Gordon - 8 assists

Amanda Zdru (Stratford, Conn.) and Joismar Aviles - 10 digs

Majo Pelaez and Elizabeth Lynch - 2 blocks

Alyssa Valentine and Shalese Gordon - 2 aces

Johnson and Wales

Sarah Miller - 17 kills

Kelsie Tretera - 20 assists

Sierra Nausieda - 10 digs

Ajie Jagne - 2 blocks

Peyton Oliver - 5 aces

NOTEWORTHY

• Valentine's eight assists were tied for the second most she's had this season. Her two aces were the first two of her career.

• With her ten digs, Zdru has 217 this season, which leads the GNAC.

• The Falcons now lead the GNAC with 40 solo blocks. They are tied for fourth in total blocks.

UP NEXT

The Falcons go on the road to take on Fitchburg State (1 p.m.) and host Curry College (3 p.m.) for a non-conference tri-match on Saturday, September 30.