Purple Knights Return To The Volleyball Court With Season-Opening Tri-Match Split In Hubbell Gym

Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport women's volleyball team returned to the court for the first time since December of 2019 on Saturday in Hubbell Gym, and the Purple Knights split a pair of four-set matches to open the 2021 campaign, defeating Assumption, 25-14, 16-25, 27-25, 25-19, to begin the day and closing things out with a 23-25, 22-25, 25-16, 20-25 loss to Holy Family.

In the win over Assumption, freshman Melanie Smith (Ft. Collins, Colo.) led the Purple Knights with 19 kills.  She was joined in double-digit kills by classmate Paola Hernandez (Bayamon, P.R.), who registered 17, and who also finished with a double-double, notching 10 digs.

Freshman setter Jaden Drollinger (Queens Creek, Az.) directed the Bridgeport offense with 41 assists.

Senior Emily Burford (Albuquerque, N.M.) had a fine all-around match in the win over the Greyhounds leading the team in digs with 12 and blocks with four (one solo), plus she contributed six kills.

Graduate student Amanda Hennemann (Nova Petropolis, Brazil) reached double-digit digs with 10 in the 2021 season opener.

Against Holy Family, Hernandez notched her second double-double in as many matches leading UB with 16 kills and 16 digs.

Paola was joined in double-digit kills by three teammates in the loss versus the Tigers, as Smith had 12, to give her 31 in the two matches, and Burford and senior Amanda Keller (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), each chipped in 11.

Melanie Smith finished with a double-double, as she had 11 digs to go along with her 12 kills.

Amanda Hennemann again reached double figures in digs with 14 against the Tigers.

Freshman Madison Jongsma (Sanford, Fla.) recorded a match-best four blocks against Holy Family, and classmate Jaden Drollinger did another fine job in orchestrating the Bridgeport attack with 48 assists.

Up next, the UB women's volleyball team will travel to Waterbury, Connecticut for next weekend's Post University Invitational.  The Purple Knights will open play at 12 noon on Friday, September 10, when they face I-95 rival the University of New Haven.