Women’s Volleyball Crowned 2023 CACC Champions After Five-Set Thriller

Lakewood, N.J. – The University of Bridgeport women's volleyball team fought back from being down two set to one to take the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Final in five sets over the two-time defending champions Jefferson University Rams. UB won sets two, four and five by scores of 25-23, 25-23 and 15-11 while Jefferson won sets one and three 25-21 and 25-23. The win gains Bridgeport an automatic bid into the NCAA East Regionals and improves their overall season record to 26-7.

The Rams and Purple Knights met once during the regular season, on October 28^th where UB would prevail in five sets. No CACC Final had gone five sets in the last 10 years, but these two teams were destined to go the distance again.

The Purple Knights led in nearly every category but by slim margins. The outhit the Rams .195 hitting percentage with .228 hitting percentage of their own. Bridgeport recorded 86 digs, five more than Jefferson's 81 and 19 total blocks, four more than the Rams' 15. Jefferson would make every point a battle and opened by taking sets one and three by four and two points respectively.

UB had their worst attack set in that third frame, only accruing a .111 hitting percentage. The Purple Knights would bounce back, winning set four by the slimmest of margins and muscling their way to a 15-11 set and match win in the fifth set.

Hailey Jessen (Fr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) had another strong day in attack for the Purple Knights as she supplied 22 kills along with four assisted blocks and three digs.

Setter Jaden Drollinger (Jr., Queens Creek, Az.) provided 53 assists for UB in addition to her 14 digs, three kills and one ace.

Datari Mathis (Grad., Wethersfield, Conn.) tallied 13 kills from the right side with five digs, three assisted blocks and one ace.

The ever-efficient Lucia Tomiello (So., Caltrano, Italy) attacked with team-leading .391 hitting percentage as she racked up 12 kills, six total blocks, three digs and one ace.

Freshman Grace Presswood (S. Dennis, Mass.) registered a game-high 26 digs to add to her 10 kills, two assisted blocks and one assist.

Paola Hernandez (Jr., Bayamon, P.R.) put in another great shift as libero for the Purple Knights as she produced 24 digs from the back line along with seven assists.

2023 All-Tournament Team

Elly Collins – Wilmington

Erika Dubosky – Chestnut Hill

Rachel Pace – Chestnut Hill

Jess Molen – Jefferson

Caroline Bond – Jefferson

Sam Mann - Jefferson

Hailey Jessen - Bridgeport

Lucia Tomiello - Bridgeport

Datari Mathis - Bridgeport

Jaden Drollinger – Bridgeport

Grace Presswood - Bridgeport

Most Valuable Player

Hailey Jessen - Bridgeport

Up next, UB will look to Monday's selection show at 7:30 p.m. for their NCAA East Regional First Round opponent after gaining an automatic bid for winning the CACC.

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