WSOU

Recap: Pirates Stun Providence in Five Sets

Date: October 1, 2021

By: Christopher Benítez Cuartas

The Seton Hall women's volleyball team celebrates after winning a home match against the Providence Friars.

Seton Hall Athletics

Friday night saw the tense, entertaining face-off between the Seton Hall Pirates (9-8, 1-2 conference) and the Providence Friars (12-4, 0-3 conference). After five grueling sets at the newly renovated Walsh Gymnasium in South Orange, N.J., the Pirates were able to win by a score of 3-2.

The opening kill came from Maryanne Boyle of the visiting side. Seton Hall's offense was strong, with Cagla Bengi and Amanda Rachwal leading for the first few plays. Tsvetelina Ilieva managed to retaliate a spike from Emma Fink, thus beginning the series of draws this suspenseful match would be remembered for.

While the Pirates focused on the center, the Friars funneled their offense almost exclusively to their right. Perri Lucas (had a season-best 17 kills on the night) eventually took charge of the match and led with three kills in the first set. Seton Hall comfortably won the first set, 25-18.

Seton Hall continued their stride after the second set began, with Lucas and her action at the right corner more emboldened than before. Providence's offense was insistent, but walled against by Lucas, Madison Frusha (career-high 11 kills), and Katie Winkler. The Friars' charge on offense would translate into Shaliyah Rhoden and Caroline LaMacchia leading their team's attack throughout the majority of the set.

This strategy proved effective, which played a part in the neck-to-neck excitement of the game. The new SHU formation had extensive defensive backing and Ilieva as a major blocker. The set ended in a 25-19 score for the Pirates; a victory that cost a bit more than the last.

Providence began another major rally on the third set, when Rachwal, Anna Holland, and Madeline Matheny were trying to stifle the offense while playing a major role in Seton Hall’s defense. The Pirates’ main threats at this point were Alicja Pokrzywa and Mackenzie Taylor with Providence's corner attacking. Eventually, Niah Tucker led the offensive push, and the Friars won the set, 25-22.

The fourth and fifth sets were the all-out chapters of the match, with the fans getting louder and every player possible attacking from left, right, and center. The fourth set had to be extended, and after many technical reviews, it resulted in a timely 28-26 Providence victory. The fifth set was the decider, with Ilieva scoring the game kill for the Seton Hall Pirates that clinched the huge win.

Next up for Seton Hall is another match at Walsh Gymnasium against the No. 16 Creighton Bluejays at 6 p.m. Liam Plate and Rony Jerez will have the call!

Christopher Benítez Cuartas can be reached at christopher.bentezcuartas@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, Volleyball, WSOU

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