Pirates Take One of Three at Maryland Invitational

Published: Sunday, September 13, 2026

by Caitlin Barrar

COLLEGE PARK, M.D. – After a hot start to the season, the Seton Hall Volleyball team (6-3) only won one out of three matches at the Maryland Invitational this weekend.  
 
In the first of their three matches at Xfinity Center, the Pirates started neck and neck in set one against host Maryland (5-1) on Friday night. Junior Alondra Villanueva led the attack with six kills, nine digs, and three blocks.  

However, as the match unfolded, Maryland’s late set execution proved too dominant for Seton Hall to be able to mount a full comeback. The Terrapins swept the Pirates in three sets.  

 

The Pirates had a .000 attack percentage in the third set and just a .112 percentage for the whole game. The Hall also recorded just 29 digs, which is tied for a season low.  

The same could not be said in Seton Hall’s first match on Saturday versus Princeton (3-2). The Pirates eventually dropped a hard fought 3-2 match after a two-set Princeton rally, but Seton Hall played a very well-rounded game.

 

Following set three, the Pirates found themselves leading 2-1 after getting clutch kills from Daria Safian, who finished with 17 and attacked at a .342, and Samantha Shelton, putting up 13 kills of her own to go along with seven digs and three blocks.   

The contributions did not end at those two. Gwen Adler tallied a double-double exploding for 33 assists and a career-high 22 digs. Villanueva found herself in the double-digit category in kills, with 14 in addition to two aces. Emilee Fuller contributed heavily to the Pirates’ 73 total kills as she notched a season-high 23 of the Pirates’ 71 assists.  

Seton Hall tallied more digs and kills than the Tigers, however late set play once again became the Achilles’ heel of the Pirates as they could not stave off Princeton’s comeback.  

However, Seton Hall had little time to ruminate on the heartbreaking loss as they had a quick turnaround to their final match of the tournament against St. Peter’s (0-10).  

 

This time a 2-1 Pirates lead found their footing as they took the match 3-1 in four sets. Maddy Loiselle erupted for a match-high 17 kills on a .500 attack percentage. Villanueva once again continued her strong tournament performance, adding nine kills and a career-high 16 digs. 

 

Seton Hall’s defense was on point in this one as they held the Peacocks to a .073 attacking percentage and commanded a 10-3 run in set four to seal their victory.

 

The Pirates will return to play when they take on NJIT in game one of the NJIT Invitational on September 17th at 6 p.m.  

 

Caitlin Barrar can be reached at caitlin.barrar@student.shu.edu 

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