Credit: GR Productions
Seton Hall Volleyball Take Two at Towson Invitational
Published: Sunday, September 15, 2024
by Jack Pine
TOWSON, M.D. – The Seton Hall Pirates showed progress at the Towson Invitational, winning their first two matches before falling to Towson University in the final. The Pirates, now 5-4 for the season after an initial 0-3 start, demonstrated resilience and improvement throughout the tournament.
The Hall faced Coppin State first, and quickly trailed 3-0 in the opening set due to quick kills from Coppin State’s Ayanna Pharaoh. Later on, the Pirates managed to equalize at 19-19 following a timeout, but Coppin State surged ahead with late kills from TaKenya Stafford and Bertotti Metoyer, clinching the set 25-22 with a final kill by Gabriela Zuquelo.
In the second set, Seton Hall turned the tide by capitalizing on Coppin State’s errors. Maddie Klungel, Jenna Walsh, and Gwen Adler led the charge as Seton Hall built and maintained a significant lead. They won the set 25-17, leveling the match at 1-1.
The third set saw Seton Hall start strongly, taking a 3-0 lead with early kills and a service ace from Klungel. Although Coppin State briefly led, Seton Hall regained control with contributions from Asli Subasili and Walsh. Seton Hall secured the set 25-21 with a final kill from Senna Roberts-Navarro, moving ahead 2-1 in the match.
In the fourth set, Seton Hall and Coppin State remained neck-and-neck until the last point, in a closely contested battle that never saw a lead greater than four points. Despite initial struggles, Seton Hall recovered and gathered enough momentum to take the lead. With the score tied apiece at 23, the Pirates capitalized on Bald Eagles’ errors by Zuquelo and Coco Figueroa. They clinched the set 25-23, securing the match 3-1.
The next day, the Pirates faced Loyola Maryland in a doubleheader. Seton Hall struggled in the first set with repeated attack errors and poor timing, allowing Loyola to capitalize on Seton Hall’s mistakes. Despite strong performances from Walsh and Klungel once again, Loyola's Lauren Link and Kacy Sekunda helped their team win the set 25-18.
Seton Hall bounced back in the second set. After a shaky start, they gained momentum with key plays from Subasili, Roberts-Navarro, and Grace Turner. Loyola Maryland then faced their own attack errors and service mistakes, allowing the Pirates to build up a lead and close out the set 25-20, courtesy of a decisive kill from Walsh.
In the third set, Seton Hall continued their strong performance. They established an early lead with effective serving and key kills from Roberts-Navarro, Reagan Merk, and Loiselle. Despite a strong comeback from the Greyhounds Ally Bauer and Kacy Sekunda, Seton Hall held their ground and won the set 25-20, taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth set was closely contested, with Loyola Maryland initially leading thanks to services and kills from Bryanne Soares and Morgan Crawford. Seton Hall rallied with key contributions from Subasili and Roberts-Navarro. Despite a slim lead for Loyola Maryland late in the set, Seton Hall capitalized on errors and secured crucial kills from Walsh and Turner to win 25-23, clinching the match victory.
In the finale against the Towson Tigers, Towson took an early lead in the first set
with strong serving from Kaitlyn Moran and aggressive play from Ylenia De Mango. Seton
Hall struggled with service errors and defensive issues. Although Walsh and Turner
mounted a late rally, Towson held firm and won the set 25-21.
Seton Hall fought back in the second set with effective serving and aggressive attacks
from Subasili and Mason Woo. Despite strong performances from Victoria Barrett and
Sydney Stewart, Seton Hall closed out the set 26-24 with a pivotal kill by Merk.
Towson reclaimed momentum in the third set, capitalizing on Seton Hall’s errors and strong play from Sarah Callender and Barrett. Seton Hall initially led with serves from Woo and Merk, but 5 lead changes resulted in Towson winning the set 25-22, with a decisive kill from De Mango and a crucial block assist from De Mango and Zyare Abdul-Rahim.
In the fourth set, Towson clinched the match with a solid performance, starting with
an early lead and effective plays from Callender and Abdul-Rahim. Seton Hall struggled
with errors, and Towson's powerful kills and block assists, including from Abdul-Rahim
and Mackenzie Whyte, secured the set 25-20 and the match victory.
Despite the loss in the final match, Seton Hall finished the Towson Invitational with
a winning record for the first time this season. The Pirates have two more matches
before Big East play begins on September 27 against St. John’s, with their next match
scheduled against LIU on Tuesday.
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