Saints Defeat Cairn, Split Tri-Match at Ramapo

MAHWAH, N.J. - The Emmanuel College Women's Volleyball team split Saturday's tri-match at Ramapo, beating Cairn University in three sets, 25-12, 25-12, 25-16, and losing in three sets to the host RoadRunners, 25-17, 25-14, 25-21.

The trio of junior Cassie Chruscielski (Duluth, Minn.), freshman Angelica Czercowy (Hebron, Conn.), and senior captain Danielle Rose (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) led the way for the Saints against Cairn, combining for 22 kills and 12 digs in the sweep of the Highlanders. 12 different players tallied at least a kill in the match for Emmanuel. The team hit a combined .256 with 41 kills on 90 attempts and 18 errors. 

Junior Sarah Schemerhorn (Los Angeles, Calif.) and freshman Carly Church (Higganum, Conn.) had 15 assists and four digs each, and Schemerhorn added an ace as well. 

Early on in the match, Cairn led 4-1, but Emmanuel scored five straight points and 24 of 32, closing the set out with a service ace by senior captain Brittany Tutalo (Johnston, R.I.). The Highlanders also went up early in the third set, gaining leads of 6-1 and 11-6. The Saints responded once again, coming back with eight straight points to turn a 13-11 deficit into a 19-13 lead. Freshman Sarah Bradley (Kennebunk, Maine) ended the match with her fourth kill of the afternoon. 

The Saints second match did not produce the same results as the previous contest. The RoadRunners protected their home court with a dominant performance, winning all six sets that they played. 

Ramapo handled the first two sets, taking control from the start, but the Saints battled in the third set, causing the home team to allow the most points they'd given up in any set for the afternoon. 

Ramapo led 19-14, but Czercowy picked up two kills and the Saints battled to a 22-21 deficit before falling a few points short.

Freshmen made an impact once again for EC, as Czercowy posted eight kills and two digs while Mary Shelow (Miami, Fla.) added six kills and one block. Fellow frosh Casey Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) led the team defensively with 20 digs while Chruscielski added 16 digs of her own. Schemerhorn led the team with ten assists while adding seven digs and one ace.

The split pushes Emmanuel's record to 2-4 as GNAC play draws closer. The Saints travel to Keene State to battle the Owls in their next match on September 15 at 7:00 p.m.