UNH Defeats Cal Poly and VCU in Day 1 at James Madison

Friday, September 8

Harrisonburg, Va.

10AM

University of New Hampshire

6-2,0-0America East

Cal Poly

4-3,0-0Big West

New Hampshire

Cal Poly

9/8/2023 9:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The University of New Hampshire volleyball team defeated both Cal Poly, 3-1, and Virginia Commonwealth University, 3-0, in Day 1 action of the Erie Insurance Invitational at James Madison University's JMU Convocation Center on Friday.

The set scores against Cal Poly were 25-17, 25-27, 25-22, 25-23. And then against VCU, the Wildcats prevailed 25-19, 25-20, 25-21.

In the matinee against Cal Poly, senior captain Camryn Honn (Overland Park, Kan.) recorded her third double-double of the season with a match-high 26 assists and 11 digs. Ezgi Karabulut (Ankara, Turkey) was one kill short of a double-double with nine kills and season-high 20 digs; she was efficient on offense with a .450 hitting percentage. She also had two blocks and an ace to finish with 11 points.

Marisa Armer (Bradenton, Fla.) was UNH's leader in kills (10), followed by Karabulut and senior captain Kelly Kaufmann (Raleigh, N.C.) with nine apiece. Both Armer and Kaufmann finished with six blocks and 13 points.

Senior captain Hannah Serbousek (Fort Collins, Colo.) was the fourth Wildcat to record double-digit points with seven kills, two aces and two blocks for a total of 10 points. Avery LePore (Franklin, Tenn.) led all players with 32 digs and Alysa Wright (Wayne, Pa.) finished with a match-high eight blocks.

In the second match of the day vs. VCU, Kaufmann led UNH in kills (10), blocks (five) and points (13). Armer was next with nine kills on a .412 hitting percentage. Honn and Jessica Shattles (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) split the setting duties and finished with 17 and 15 assists, respectively. LePore led the back row with 15 digs and was followed by Serbousek (14) and Karabulut (11).

UNH improved to 7-2 with the pair of wins. Cal Poly moved to 4-3 and VCU to 3-3.

UP NEXT

UNH wraps up the Erie Insurance Invitational against the host school, James Madison University, Sept. 9 at 2 p.m.
New Hampshire's next home match is Jill Hirschinger Day on Saturday, Sept. 23 (6 p.m.) against Dartmouth College.

vs CAL POLY
SET 1

Cal Poly won the first point of the match, but UNH went ahead 3-1 and never relinquished the lead the remainder of the first set. Honn started the run with a kill, which was followed by Karabulut's ace and block assist by Kaufmann and Armer.
Leading 3-2, the Wildcats reeled off six consecutive points to pull away, 9-2. Armer recorded a block and kill during the spurt.
Cal Poly closed within 10-7, but the 'Cats responded with a 4-1 run to surge ahead 14-8.
UNH's lead fluctuated between four and eight points until Kaufmann's kill closed Set 1 at 25-17.

SET 2

In a set that ended 27-25, there were six ties but only one lead change.
New Hampshire went on a 5-0 run to build a 10-3 advantage.
Trailing 14-9, Cal Poly won five consecutive points to tie the score for the first time since 1-1.
Both teams had a pair of small runs to advance the score to 19-19.
The Wildcats had set points at 24-22, but Cal Poly responded with a 3-0 lead to take its first lead of the set, 25-24.
Serbousek's kill extended the set, but the Mustangs earned the next to points to level the match.

SET 3

Trailing 3-1, UNH won three consecutive points on blocks -- Armer and Kaufmann had two block assists – to ignite a 5-0 run that gave the 'Cats a 6-3 lead.
Cal Poly trimmed the deficit to 7-6, but UNH won the next three points to inch ahead, 10-6.
After failing on four more chances to pull even, the Mustangs finally leveled the score at 16.
UNH won three of the next four points as part of a 7-2 run that gave the Wildcats a 23-18 advantage.
Cal Poly closed within 24-22 but Armer ended the set with a kill.

SET 4

There were eight ties and two lead changes in the fourth set.
New Hampshire got off to a quick start as kills by Karabulut, Serbousek and Kaufmann – followed by a block by Kaufmann – made it 4-0.
The Mustangs chipped away and eventually pulled even at 12 before taking a 17-14 lead.
UNH rallied to tie the score, 18-18, on a combined block by Karabulut and Kaufmann and regained the lead, 20-19.
With the score knotted at 23, the Wildcats closed out the set and match on Wright's kill followed by a Cal Poly ball handling error.

SERIES NOTEBOOK

UNH has a 1-1 lifetime record against Cal Poly; these programs first met in 2003.

vs VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH
SET 1

There were eight ties and three lead changes in the opening set.
UNH won three consecutive points to take a 5-3 lead.
VCU leveled the score, 10-10, and went back in front 13-11.
The Wildcats responded with a 7-1 spurt to build an 18-14 advantage.
Leading 21-19, UNH closed out the set with four consecutive points, including back-to-back Armer kills and a block assist by Armer and Kaufmann.

SET 2

There were three ties and two lead changes in the second set.
Trailing 5-4, UNH won four consecutive points to ignite an 8-1 that gave the Wildcats a 12-6 advantage.
VCU reeled off five consecutive points to trim the deficit to 19-18.
Kaufmann's kill prevented the Rams from tying the score, however.
Leading 21-20, the 'Cats won the next four points on kills by Karabulut, Kaufmann, Honn and Armer to end the set.

SET 3

There were only two ties and one lead change in the final set.
Trailing 4-2, UNH went on a 4-0 run to take a 6-4 lead and the Wildcats remained in front the rest of the match.
VCU trailed 23-15 but reeled off six consecutive points to pull within 23-21.
The Rams committed a service error to end the spurt and Karabulut ended the set and match with a service ace.

SERIES NOTEBOOK