Women’s Volleyball Participates In Wells College Invitational

STEPHANIE LEUNG SENIOR DAY PROGRAM

AURORA, N.Y. – Many program records fell for the Wells College women's volleyball team as they posted losses to the Pioneers of Utica College and the Wildcats of SUNY Institute of Technology on Saturday at the Frances Tarlton Farenthold Athletic Wing. Following the day's action, the Express fall to 1-4 on the young season.

Agaisnt the Pioneers, Wells rebounded from a two set deficit and rallied for force a fifth set before ultimately falling 3-2 (22-25, 14-25, 27-25, 25-20, 14-16). As a team, Wells racked up 52 kills to set a single-game program record in that category – freshman Meredith Kadjeski (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) led the way with a single-game individual record 23 kills to her credit against only five errors, hitting a combined .409 for Wells in the match.

Sophomore Taryn Heath (Truxton, N.Y.) added 46 assists, a single-game record for a Wells setter. Across her two year career, Heath has racked up 576 assists while averaging 4.47 assists per set. Defensively, junior Jessilyn Artaho-Aki (Ka'paa, Hawaii) and freshman Nadine Pershyn (Buffalo, N.Y.) recorded 31 digs in the five set loss. The Express hammered home a combined 10 service aces but also tallied 16 service errors in the loss.

As a team, Utica hit a collective .372 in the match after posting only 15 attacking errors alongside 60 total kills. Cassandra Manzer hit at a .632 clip (13-1-19) while Lora Allen and Chelsea Lauria each reached double-digit assist totals. 16 total team blocks also aided the Pioneers in the five set battle.

Against the Wildcats of SUNY Institute of Technology, Wells fell in straight sets by a 3-0 margin (11-25, 25-27, 13-25). Kadjeski once again led all players with 10 kills while also contributing six digs. Heath contributed with 19 assists and made eight digs, both team-highs. Artaho-Aki racked up six kills in 26 total attacks to record a positive hitting percentage.

Today's slate of matches also marked the final collegiate game at home for the team's lone senior, Stephanie Leung (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Entering today, Leung had appeared in 80 sets across her two year career, recording 65 total digs and hammering home five service aces. Named captain prior to the season following a poll of her teammates, Leung will graduate this spring as a Theatre major holding a Psychology minor.

Wells returns to action this Friday, Sept. 7 as they face-off against four opponents at the Max Ziel Gymnasium on the campus of Oswego State College starting at 4:00 p.m. The Express will look for revenge against Utica while also playing Marywood University, St. Lawrence University and the host Lakers. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Wells College athletic department by "liking" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WellsExpress) and subscribing to our Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/WellsExpress).