Women’s Volleyball Splits on Final Day of Reg. Season

Written by Andrew Capitelli (SJC-LI Sports Information)

Patchogue, NY| The St. Joseph's College (L.I.) women's volleyball team defeated Farmingdale State but lost to Mount Saint Mary College in a regular-season-ending Skyline Conference tri-match on Saturday afternoon. With the split, the Golden Eagles finish the season with a 16-15 record (9-1 Skyline) and clinch the fourth seed in the conference playoffs.

In the first match of the afternoon, the Golden Eagles took on the Rams of Farmingdale at 12:00 PM. A tight affair early on, the two side played to a 7-7 tie, but a three-point rally for the hosts set the tone for the remainder of the frame. After building a 17-12 lead, the Golden Eagles widened the gap further with a 4-0 run jump started by a Jenna Beekman service ace. Up 21-12, St. Joseph's would cruise to an inevitable 25-15 win.

Set two saw the Rams jump out to a 5-4 lead, but five-straight points by the Golden Eagles put the hosts back in front. Three of the next four points went to Farmingdale, but another 5-0 rally by St. Joseph's increased their lead to 15-8. Courtney Bocchieri's kill would eventually seal the 26-16 second set victory for the Golden Eagles.

A reenergized Farmingdale side maintained the lead for the first half of the third set, but St. Joseph's would chip away at the deficit and tie the set at 12. An 8-2 run by the Golden Eagles, highlighted by kills from Claire Urizzo, Tiffany Willms and AnneMarie Taggart, distanced themselves from the Rams and propelled them to a 25-12 third-set win to sweep the match, 3-0.

The usual suspects got the job done for the Golden Eagles, as Heather Ferchland led the match in kills (8), Courtney Wickline's in assists (26) and Beekman in digs (12). Taggart had a strong showing, lending five kills and a game-best four block assists.

The Golden Eagles later faced Mount Saint Mary in the 4:00 PM game that would go the limit. The first set took way more than 25 points to claim, as the Knights edged out the Golden Eagles in a 35-33 marathon frame. The breakthrough would come following consecutive service aces by Angelia Cirigliano.

St. Joseph's earned an impressive 25-17 win in the second set to draw the match back level at 1-1. After leading 21-17, a 4-0 run—which wrapped with a Ferchland kill—capped off the set. Mount Saint Mary led 17-16 in a crucial third set, but consecutive kills from Urizzo and Ferchland propelled the Golden Eagles to a narrow 25-22 win.

With their backs against the wall, the Knights took the fourth by the score of 25-20 to push a deciding fifth frame. Maintaining momentum, Mount Saint Mary went up 5-1, but St. Joseph's rallied for the next three points. Their run was answered by the Knights with four-straight, only to again be matched by the Golden Eagles, who drew the score back to 9-8. Back and forth the teams found themselves tied at 13, but a Elizabeth Lavin kills followed by a SJC attacking error sealed the 3-2 match win for the guests.

Ferchland's 25 kills were a game-high and season-best, as were Wickline's 55 assists. Beekman's 27 were also a game best, while Urizzo went for 11 kills, 16 digs and four aces.

The Golden Eagles open Skyline Conference playoff action on Tuesday, November 3 when they host Farmingdale State inside the Danzi Center at 7:00 PM. Live stats will be available here.