EAST STROUDSBURG – In its first regular season matches at Koehler Fieldhouse in 661 days, the East Stroudsburg University volleyball team opened the ESU Invitational with a thrilling come-from-behind five set victory against Saint Anselm. The Warriors closed the day with a 3-1 loss to PSAC West foe Pitt-Johnstown.
Tricia Melfy picked up her first win as the head coach of the Warriors (1-5) in dramatic fashion against the previously undefeated Hawks (4-1). ESU fell 25-14 in the first and would take the second set 25-19. Trailing 15-5 in the third set, the Warriors never gave up, shaking off five set points to ultimately capture a five-set instant classic 14-25, 25-19, 28-26, 19-25, 15-10.
After the lengthy five-set match, the Warriors immediately had to battle the rested Mountain Cats. ESU would fall in four sets by scores of 25-14, 25-17, 21-25, 25-11
Notables
- Senior Ali Finch did a little bit of everything today for the Warriors as she finished with 15 kills, 58 assists and 19 digs across the two matches
- Sophomore Kaylee LoPresto provided ESU with a number of big swings on the offensive end as she tallied a team-high 26 kills to go along with 27 digs
- Senior Anna Salasky played a key role for the Warriors today as she recorded 17 kills and 24 digs in nine sets
- In the two matches, senior Emily Meredith registered a team-high 48 digs
- In the second set against Saint Anselm, the Warriors recorded their best hitting percentage of the day at .300
How it Happened – Match One
- With the Hawks holding a slim 4-3 advantage on the scoreboard, Saint Anselm would pick up eight of the next nine points to build a 12-4 lead. ESU countered and took momentum for the time being with a 7-2 run to cut the Hawks' edge to 14-11. Saint Anselm regrouped, finishing the set on a 10-3 sprint to take the first set, 25-14.
- After trading points to begin the second set, the Hawks temporarily took control with a 4-0 run to grab a 9-5 advantage. ESU impressively responded with a 8-1 run to force a Saint Anselm timeout with the Warriors taking a set lead of 12-10. The Warriors would maintain the lead, as Saint Anselm would get within a point at 17-16. The resilient Warriors built a late seven-point lead to secure the set, grabbing the second set by a score of 25-19. ESU used an 8-2 sprint to grab its first set of the invitational.
- It was Saint Anselm that seized momentum, building up a six-point lead at 10-4 to force an ESU timeout. The Hawks would extend the lead to 16-5, before the Warriors rushed back into the set with seven consecutive points to cut the deficit to just 16-12. Saint Anselm extended the lead to 22-14, before a furious 10-2 run tied the match up on set point at 24-24. ESU rallied with three consecutive points to have its own set point at 25-24. ESU shrugged off a total of five set points in the comeback, 12-3 run to take a 2-1 lead in the match. ESU earned the set by a score of 28-26.
- Both teams would trade points, until the Warriors built a four-point lead at 14-10. Saint Anselm would get right back into the set with a 6-0 run to grab a two-point lead at 16-14. The Hawk would hold off any possibility for a second consecutive set comeback, earning a 25-19 fourth set. Saint Anselm used a 17-6 run to extend the match to a fifth set.
- Just like the previous three sets, the fifth and final frame was just as intense. After the Hawks built an 8-4 advantage, the Red and Black stormed back and tied the match at eight after four consecutive points. With the match tied at 10-10 in the fifth set, the Warriors could not be denied, earning five consecutive points to earn the set, 15-10 and the match, 3-2.
How it Happened – Match Two
- Shortly after finishing its first five-set match of the season, ESU had to get back on the court and face the Mountain Cats. With ESU trailing 12-7, Pitt-Johnstown was able to build a solid a ten-point advantage at 19-9 and 20-10. The Warriors were unable to comeback this time, falling 25-14 during the first frame.
- As it did all night, ESU stay composed. The Warriors would consistently trade points with UPJ, as both teams would not hold a lead larger than two, until the Mountain Cats took control late. UPJ would take a 2-0 lead after earning a 25-17 second set.
- In a mirror image of the second set, both ESU and UPJ would trade points with neither team taking a lead larger than two until Pitt-Johnstown would take a 17-14 advantage. ESU would not let UPJ grasp victory, as 5-0 Warriors' run, who would take a 19-17 lead late into the set. The Warriors would hold off the Cats, downing UPJ, 25-21 to pick up the set victory and make it a 2-1 contest.
- With UPJ leading 7-5, the Mountain Cats completed the match on a 18-6 swing to pick up the 25-11 fourth set.
Up Next
The Warriors are right back at Koehler Fieldhouse on Saturday to conclude the ESU Invitational with matches against Kutztown at 11 a.m. and Caldwell at 5 p.m.
