SALEM, Mass. - Majo Pelaez (Armenia, Colombia) tied a season-high with 15 kills to go with 12 digs, but the Albertus Magnus College volleyball team lost a 3-1 match to Salem State on Tuesday evening.
Savanna Smith (New Haven, Conn.) had 11 assists and 10 digs and Sophie Cseszko (Magnolia, Texas) had four kills for the Falcons.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Salem State 3 | Albertus 1
SET 1: Salem State 25 | Albertus 20
SET 2: Albertus 25 | Salem State 12
SET 3: Salem State 25 | Albertus 21
SET 4: Salem State 25 | Albertus 23
RECORDS: Albertus (2-4) | Salem State (2-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In set one, the Falcons took an early 8-5 lead, taking advantage of six errors by the Vikings early on. With the set tied at 12-12, Salem State scored six straight points, including three aces by Gianna Mahoney. Albertus battled back scoring the next five which included a kill from Yarieshka Sierra (Hartford, Conn.). However, the Vikings finished on a 7-3 run in the set to make it a 1-0 lead in the match. Pelaez and Sierra each had two kills in the set.
- Albertus never trailed in the second set, jumping out to an 11-3 lead behind three kills from Pelaez. The Falcons took their first double-digit lead at 17-7 after a kill from Cseszko. The Vikings did not get closer than seven points the rest of the way as Albertus finished on an 8-2 run. Pelaez finished with four kills in the set, while Cseszko had a kill and an ace.
- Salem State never trailed in the third set, taking a 10-5 lead early. The Vikings led by as much as eight, but the Falcons were able to get back to within three at 24-21 before Salem State closed it out. Pelaez had four kills and five digs in the set, while Cseszko and Paula Matheus (Tunja-Boyaca, Colombia) each had two kills. Sierra had six digs and Smith, six assists.
- A competitive fourth set saw five ties and four lead changes. With the set tied, 8-8, Albertus went on an 8-3 run to take a 16-11 lead as Pelaez had two assists, while Gordon had one. The Eagles took a 22-19 lead on another kill from Pelaez, but a 6-1 run from the Vikings closed out the match. Pelaez had five kills, two aces and six digs in the set.
LEADERS
Albertus
Majo Pelaez - 15 Kills
Savanna Smith - 11 Assists
Majo Pelaez - 12 Digs
Majo Pelaez and Shalese Gordon - 2 Aces
Paula Matheus - 3 Blocks
Salem State
Presley Shairs - 16 Kills
Celia Carbone - 17 Assists
Kailey Roche - 16 Digs
Gianna Mahoney - 7 Aces
Presley Shairs - 4 Blocks
NOTEWORTHY
- Pelaez has had 15 kills in three of six games this season.
UP NEXT
The Falcons travel to the University of Hartford on Friday for a non-conference match at 6 p.m.
