Volleyball Starts Fast But Purple Knights Fall In Five Sets At NYIT

Old Westbury, N.Y.-The University of Bridgeport women's volleyball team got off to a quick start on the road at NYIT on Thursday evening winning the first two sets, but the Purple Knights could not close things out, as the host Bears rallied to hand UB its first conference loss in over two years, topping the visitors in five sets.  Bridgeport took sets one and two, 25-16 and 25-18, but dropped the final three sets, 18-25, 21-25, 8-15.  The Purple Knights are now 16-8 overall and 9-1 in conference play this season.  NYIT ups its overall record to 18-4, and the Bears are now 7-3 in the ECC.  Thursday's loss snaps a 35-match regular season conference winning streak for Bridgeport, and a total ECC winning streak of 41 matches including conference tournament play.  Ironically, the Purple Knights' last East Coast Conference loss was a five-set defeat versus NYIT in Bridgeport on October 10, 2013.

Junior Katarina Krstonosic (Kikinda, Serbia) led Bridgeport with 15 kills on the night.

Senior Sarah Rosa (Itajuba, Brazil) notched a double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs, and junior Sara Cruz (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) also chipped in 12 kills.

UB setter Ellie Rich (Fr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) had a season-high 50 assists on Thursday.

Junior libero Amelie Guinci (Cannes, France) led the Bridgeport defense with 20 digs.

One of the keys to NYIT's comeback was the Bears strong defense at the net, as the Bears finished the night with 14 blocks to only for the  Purple Knights.

The UB women's volleyball team will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday night when they return to Hubbell Gym to take on LIU Post.  Match time is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Park City.