Pirates Sweep UConn to Open Home Weekend

Published: Friday, November 8, 2024

by Jack Pine

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall Pirates (10-14) secured an impressive victory over the UConn Huskies (20-5), improving to 4-9 in BIG EAST play on Friday night. The Pirates outperformed the Huskies in every set, showing a powerful combination of offense, defense, and teamwork. UConn struggled to break through Seton Hall’s efficient and balanced attack. Each of the Huskies’ five losses this season has come on the road.

The Pirates opened with a remarkable offensive display, hitting at a .382 percentage in the first set with 15 kills and only 2 errors on 34 attempts. Seton Hall’s Senna Roberts-Navarro led with 14 total kills by the end of the match, and Maddy Loiselle contributed 9, setting the tone early.

Maddie Klungel’s 31 assists ensured smooth offensive execution, feeding both Loiselle and Roberts-Navarro for clean, effective attacks. The Pirates quickly closed out the first set 25-17, capitalizing on UConn’s struggles to maintain consistency.

In the second set, Seton Hall’s defense played a significant role in their 25-19 win. Asli Subasili stood out with a match-high 4 blocks, teaming up with Loiselle to limit UConn’s offensive options. The Pirates maintained a stellar .478 hitting percentage with just 2 errors, making it difficult for UConn to find momentum. 

Reagan Merk contributed a service ace, further pressuring the Huskies, who hit .269 in the set but were unable to overcome Seton Hall’s defense and consistent attacks. The Pirates took the second set on a service error, summing up the match to this point for the Huskies. The seventh Huskies error of the set sealed a 25-19 win for The Hall.

The final set proved more competitive, but the Pirates held on for the victory. UConn made a late push with 13 kills and a .163 hitting percentage, yet the Pirates’ depth and resilience carried them to the sweep. 

Subasili added another two aces to her performance, and Mason Woo’s defensive prowess led the team with 12 digs, while Klungel added 9. Despite a close call toward the end, Seton Hall’s consistent play enabled them to close out the match decisively with a 25-23 win in the third and final set.

Roberts-Navarro’s match-high 14 kills led Seton Hall, complemented by Loiselle with 9 and Perri Lucas with 7. Subasili’s four blocks and two aces underscored her contribution, while Klungel’s 31 assists directed the Pirates’ smooth offensive flow. Seton Hall ended with a .333 overall hitting percentage, tallying 44 kills on 99 attempts, while UConn managed a .171 percentage with 37 kills. Woo’s 12 digs helped anchor the Pirates’ defense, giving Seton Hall a 55-42 edge in total digs.

Seton Hall improves to 4-9 in conference play but still has some ground to make up, as they are three games back of a possible BIG EAST Tournament berth. The Pirates will continue their weekend homestand on Saturday evening, as they take on the Providence Friars. Live coverage will begin on WSOU.net at 5 p.m. AJ Rayer and Anthony Collins will have the call.

Jack Pine is an Assistant Sports Director/Sports Web Editor at WSOU 89.5 and can be reached at john.pine@student.shu.edu.

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