ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University women's volleyball team won a thrilling five-setter against Centenary University on Tuesday evening in an Atlantic East Conference first round match.
Melissa Eddy led the Knights with 17 kills,12 digs and four service aces.
Julia Solomon tallied 12 kills.
Kyla Carney handed out 23 assists and added 10 digs.
Liv Bowers dished out 13 assists.
Hannah Strohm notched 12 digs.
Soleil-La'Jour Staggs had three block solos. The team added 14 block assists, led by Solomon with five and
Taylor Long with four.
The Cyclones held an edge in the first set and scored seven straight points to take a 22-12 advantage. The Knights answered with five points but could not get another run going and Centenary took the first set 25-19.
In set two, Neumann built an early 10-4 lead. Centenary scored six straight and tied the score at 11 before the teams started going back and forth. The Cyclones led 24-22 when the Knights scored four straight points and tied the match at one with a 26-24 set two win on two kills by Solomon.
The Knights held the pace of set three and had a stretch of scoring 11 of 12 points to take a 21-5 lead. Neumann came away with the 25-7 set three win to take a 2-1 match lead. Set four was much like set one and the Cyclones won 25-19 to tie the match at two and force a fifth set.
The fifth set started back and forth and the teams were knotted at five when the Knights scored six of the next seven points to take an 11-6 advantage. The Cyclones answered by scoring four of the next five for a 12-10 score. A kill by
Bri Gautier and an Eddy service ace brought Neumann to match point. The teams traded attack errors as the Knights held on for the 15-11 set and 3-2 match win.
Neumann (15-14) heads to the semifinals and will travel to No. 1 seeded Marymount on Thursday evening.
