BY RONALD HANAKI
SC Staff Writer
On a cool, crisp Friday evening in mid-November, the ESU Warriors played host to the West Chester Rams in women’s volleyball at Koehler Fieldhouse.
Family and friends were out in full force to support the Warriors as this marked the final game for senior middle blocker Elizabeth Madden and senior setter Allye Preziosi.
Even ESU political science professor and one-time soccer sensation Dr. Samuel Quainoo made a celebrity appearance together with his family in support of the Warriors.
As for ESU, they were looking to snap a six-game losing streak in their final game of the season.
Before the start of the game, there was an on-court ceremony to honor Madden and Preziosi. Then it was on to the volleyball game.
The Warriors channeled that emotion to jump out to an early lead, but the Rams won the first set 25-20.
The second set saw the Warriors storm out to a dominating 7-2 lead before the Rams called timeout.
The outcome of the set was never in doubt as the Warriors took the second set 25-15. The teams were now tied at one set a piece.
The third set would prove to be closely contested. The set was tied at 15-15, but the Rams won the next two points to go up 17-15.
It was a lead that the Rams would never relinquish on their way to winning the set 25-20. It was now two sets to one in favor of the Rams.
So the Warriors needed to win the fourth set in order to force a decisive fifth set.
Playing with a sense of urgency, the Warriors were able to jump out to an early 3-0 lead, but the game was soon tied at 17-17.
The Rams won the next three points for a 20-17 lead before the Warriors called a timeout.
Following the timeout, the Warriors won the next two points to cut the Rams’ lead to 20-19 – forcing the Rams to call a timeout.
However, the Rams then won the next two points for what would turn out to be an insurmountable 22-19 lead.
Down 21-24 for the match, the Warriors were able to save one match point on junior Shannon Hillsinger’s emphatic spike, but the Rams wound up taking the fourth set and the match 25-22.
In their final game, the two outgoing ESU seniors added to their career exploits with Madden finishing the game with a career-best 14 kills and Preziosi supporting the team with 29 assists.
Separately, the ESU women’s volleyball team will host an instructional clinic for girls ages 12+ on Saturday, December 7 at Koehler Fieldhouse.
The event will take place between 10AM-1PM. Registration and contact forms can be found on esuwarriors.com.
For more information, contact assistant coach Devon Paffendorf.
Email Ronald at:
rhanaki@live.esu.ed
