The College of Staten Island was the site of the CUNYAC’s final multi-match event of the schedule before playoffs get underway. There were a total of eight contests throughout the day, but CSI fell in its only appearances, winning the first set but then falling in the next three to visiting Brooklyn College, 3-1. Individual scores were 18-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-17. CSI’s record slipped to 2-14 overall and 2-4 in the CUNY, while the Bulldogs improved to 10-5, 5-1, respectively.
The Dolphins looked extremely sharp in the first game, never trailing in the 25-18 final. The catalyst was Ma Socorro Calleja, who punched in eight kills next to two errors and an over .500 attack percentage with a pair of digs in the first frame. CSI was rolling along with a pair of Vasiliki Stergioula aces in the second set, too, but then things took a turn for the worse. Early into the second frame, Socorro Calleja fell hard when she collided with teammate Pola Poskrobko, and she was down for sometime before being carried off the court, not to return.
Brooklyn took advantage immediately, as CSI certainly lost its punch offensively. After spreading out 15 kills in the first game, CSI only had 18 in the next three games combined and Brooklyn had them off-balance most of the way as the Dolphins failed to rebound from the injury.
Stergioula finished with 9 kills with Socorro Calleja for the team lead, and she added four aces as well. Defensively, JeanMarie Lewandoski was the standout, boasting 25 digs. Jennifer Samuel added three aces and eight digs for the Dolphins. BC was led by Maritza Morency’s 16 kills next to just three errors, adding three aces and 14 digs. Jillian Escobar added 11 kills with eight aces.
CSI will next be in action on Wednesday, October 12, when they host the College of St. Elizabeth, at 7pm at the Sports & Recreation Center.
