Purple Knights Close Out Regular Season Home Volleyball Schedule In Fine Fashion And Celebrate Senior Night With Four-Set Win Over UDC

Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport volleyball team closed out its regular season home schedule and celebrated Senior Night in fine fashion on Friday night in Hubbell Gym, as the Purple Knights won their eighth match in a row with a four-set, 25-18, 25-23, 22-25, 25-13, East Coast Conference triumph over the visiting Firebirds of the University of the District of Columbia.  With the victory, the Purple Knights are 20-4 overall and move to within one win of clinching first place in the ECC regular season standings with a 12-1 conference mark.  UDC closes out its 2012 season at 12-16 overall and 5-11 in the East Coast Conference.

Three Purple Knights registered double-figure kills on Friday led by sophomore Ying Shen (Nanjing, China) with 14.  Shen notched a double-double with 11 digs to go along with her 14 kills plus three service aces.  Darsel Springer (Sr., Bonair Gardens, Trinidad & Tobago) crushed 13 kills and added five block assists, and sophomore Larissa Oliveira (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) contributed 10 kills and five blocks (one solo and four assists).

Sophomore Biljana Savic (Novi Sad, Serbia) had a solid all-around contest with eight kills, 15 digs, three blocks (one solo) and a service ace.

Senior Sabrina Simas (Blumenau, Brazil) added nine kills and six blocks (one solo) for the winners.

Libero Taylor McBeth (Sr., Langley, B.C. Canada) had a strong defensive night recording a match-high 16 digs, and McBeth also had three service aces.

Sophomore setter Fernanda Silva (Brasilia, Brazil) directed the UB offense to the tune of 43 assists.

Vanessa Garley led UDC with 12 kills.

Five Bridgeport seniors were honored before the match for their contributions to the University and its women's volleyball program.  The UB Volleyball Class of 2012 is made up of Judith Duekert, Taylor McBeth, Sabrina Simas, Darsel Springer and Brittany Vega.

The Purple Knights will now close out their 2012 regular season schedule with a three-match road trip that begins at Mercy College on Sunday, November 11 at 12 noon.