Volleyball Returns To Action With Comeback Five-Set Home ECC Win Over NYIT

Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport volleyball team came back to the court on Thursday night after a 12-day layoff caused by Hurricane Sandy, and the Purple Knights made their return a good one rebounding from an 0-2 sets deficit and posting a thrilling, five-set, 21-25, 15-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-12 key East Coast Conference home win over the visiting NYIT Bears.  UB has now won seven matches in a row, and the Purple Knights are 19-4 overall and 11-1 in ECC play which gives them a three-match lead in the loss column over both NYIT and LIU Post with four matches to play in the regular season.  The Bears are now 18-8 overall and 10-4 in conference action.  Thursday's match featured a total of 34 ties and 19 lead changes in the five sets.

Sophomore Ying Shen (Nanjing, China) had an outstanding match for the winners amassing 22 kills with a .571 attack percentage and notching a double-double with 12 digs.  Six of Ying's kills came in the deciding fifth set.  Shen also contributed 4 block assists.

Sophomore Biljana Savic (Novi Sad, Serbia) had 11 kills, two service aces and three block assists for Bridgeport.

Senior Sabrina Simas (Blumenau, Brazil) rounded out the UB players in double-figures with 10, and she had an impressive .714 attack percentage recording those 10 kills on 14 attacks with no errors.  Simas also added four block assists, four digs and three assists.

On defense for the Purple Knights senior Taylor McBeth (Langley, B.C., Canada) and sophomore Larissa Oliveira (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) played key roles for UB, as McBeth had a match-high 13 digs from her libero position and Oliveira stood tall at the net with six block assists.

Sophomore setter Fernanda Silva (Brasilia, Brazil) directed the Purple Knights' offense with 44 assists, and she also added seven digs and two block assists.

Shelby Cable led NYIT with 15 kills on the night.

The Purple Knights are right back in action at home tomorrow night, Friday, November 9 when they host their final regular season match of 2012 as they celebrate Senior Night against the University of the District of Columbia.  The match is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow evening.