#3 Women’s Volleyball Defeated by USMMA in Skyline Semis

Written by Andrew Capitelli (SJC-LI Sports Information)

Kings Point, NY| The third-seeded St. Joseph's College (L.I.) women's volleyball team saw its 2017 season come to an end on Thursday evening with a defeat to the second-seeded U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in the semifinal round of the Skyline Conference Championship.

The Golden Eagles, who reached the semifinal round of the tournament for the seventh-straight season, finish the year with a 15-14 record. The Mariners improve to 16-7 with the win and advance to the conference final on Saturday.

Falling behind early, SJC trailed 22-17 in the first set but rallied for four of the next five points to cut the deficit to two (23-21). A St. Joseph's service error on the next point put USMMA on the brink victory (24-21) and Kayla Gleason clinched the first-set win for the hosts with a service ace.

In the second, the Golden Eagles squandered a 12-7 lead en route to a second 25-21 defeat that saw the Privateers go up 2-0 in the match.

Despite scoring the first two points of the third set, SJC relinquished the lead and never regained it. At set's end it was a 25-20 defeat as USMMA completed the three-game sweep.

Junior Kristen Bohnenblusch led St. Joseph's with eight kills in the match while senior Claire Urizzo and Kaitlin Williams contributed seven apiece.

Bohnenblusch was also credited with a team-best 18 digs. Junior Danielle Senecal, who led the conference in digs-per-set this season, collected 17 digs and senior Keilly Estacuy dug out 15.

Senior Jessica Monteserrato dished out 20 assists in her final collegiate contest.