FLUSHING, N.Y. – Despite falling in the opening sets, the East Stroudsburg University volleyball team completed a pair of comeback victories against Post (21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-20) and Queens (N.Y.) (24-26, 25-23, 26-24, 27-25) at the Aline Pascale Lubin Invitational inside Auxiliary Gym.
The Warriors (4-2) will now face Saint Thomas Aquinas and Caldwell tomorrow afternoon in Sparkill, N.Y. The Eagles fell to 2-4, and the Knights (6-1) suffered their first loss of the season after falling to ESU.
Notables vs. Post
- Anna Coulter contributed 15 kills on 33 attempts (.364), seven solo blocks, and three assisted, along with two digs.
- Kelly Crites registered 15 kills and 18 digs for her third consecutive double-double.
- Taylor Haan recorded 44 assists, 14 digs, and two aces in the double-double performance.
- Allison Oberlin-Pope contributed eight kills on just 11 attempts (.636).
- Leonor Chambel posted 21 digs without a receiving error.
How It Happened vs. Post:
- In the first set, the Warriors were tied 6-6 with the Eagles early on. Post then extended its lead to 12-6 with a 6-0 run. The Eagles elevated their advantage to 22-17 and finished with a 25-21 win.
- In the second set, ESU started strong with a 3-0 lead. Post fought back, but the Warriors maintained their lead at 17-10 and closed out the set 25-19 to even the score. KiLee Kuhlman and Coulter each contributed four kills in the set.
- The third set was highly competitive, with ties at 5-5, 14-14, and 19-19. Freshmen Crites and Oberlin-Pope recorded six and four kills, respectively, for the Warriors. ESU pushed through late to win the set 25-22.
- The fourth set began with a 3-0 lead for the Eagles, but the Warriors quickly responded, tying it at 3-3. From there, ESU took control, with six kills from Coulter helping seal the set 25-20.
Notables vs. Queens
- Coulter led ESU with 17 kills and five total blocks.
- Allison Birtcil, Oberling-Pope, and Hanna Garrison each posted nine kills, with Crites adding eight.
- Taylor Haan totaled a season-high 48 assists through six matches.
- Chambel posted 22 digs against the Knights, while Makaela McComas and Crites each added double-digit digs. Chambel has now posted at least 20-digs in three consecutive matches.
How It Happened vs. Queens
- In the first set, ESU took an early 3-0 lead, but the Knights quickly tied it at 4-4. Despite a close start, the Knights gained control and stayed ahead for most of the set. Crites and Coulter registered four kills, but it wasn't enough as Queens took a competitive first set, 26-24.
- In the second set, the Warriors came from behind multiple times, eventually tying the set at 17-17 and pushing to win 25-23. Oberling-Pope recorded five kills for ESU.
- The third set saw back-and-forth action from the beginning. After 13 ties and several lead changes, ESU claimed the set 26-24 with six kills from Coulter and three each from Crites and Oberling-Pope.
- The fourth set was just as intense. The Knights maintained a lead for most of the set, but the Warriors rallied to tie at 24-24. ESU secured the victory late, winning the set 27-25.
Up Next
- ESU heads 30 miles north to Saint Thomas Aquinas on Saturday, facing the host Spartans at noon and Caldwell at 2 p.m.