Box Score
Box Score
SCRANTON, Pa. - Three different players hit double-digits in kills, as the University of Scranton volleyball team sent three seniors off in style on Wednesday evening, as the Royals bested SUNY-Geneseo in five sets (25-22, 20-25, 25-18, 24-26, 15-11) on Senior Night inside the John Long Center.
With the win, Scranton moved to 19-15 overall on the year, while SUNY-Geneseo fell to 15-12 with the defeat.
After the Royals honored the three members of their senior class - Brittany Cafiero (Merrick, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial), Danielle Cafiero (Merrick, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial), and Bailey Woods (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) - they captured the first set of the match by three points. SUNY-Geneseo, however, battled back in the second set, winning by five to tie things up at 1-1.
The third set saw Scranton dominate play, as the Royals opened an insurmountable 20-12 lead late and never looked back in a seven point win that gave them a 2-1 advantage. During the set, Brittany Cafiero went over 3,000 career assists, as well.
Scranton looked poised to end the match in four sets, eventually opening up a 24-19 lead on the visiting Knights to reach game point. However, SUNY-Geneseo clawed their way back, winning seven points in a row to shock the Royals to take the game by two points, sending the match to a decisive fifth set.
There, the Royals again opened a big lead on the Knights, going up 10-4. But, once again, Geneseo came back, chipping the Scranton lead down all the way to 11-10 late.
Here, Scranton finally slammed the door on Geneseo, as the Royals won four of the next five points to take in the match in five with a four-point victory. The match-clinching point was scored on a block-assist by Brittany Cafiero and freshman Victoria Capogna (Farmingdale, N.Y./St. Anthony's), the 25th total block of the match for Scranton.
Overall, sophomore Kristin Kirwan (Park Ridge, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy) led the attack for Scranton in the victory, finishing with 16 kills, to go along with 20 digs and four block-assists. For Kirwan, she now sits at 485 kills for the year, just two shy of tying the school record for kills in a season.
Elsewhere, Capogna had a big match, finishing with 10 kills and nine blocks (one solo), while sophomore Megan Monastra (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) also finished with 10 kills.
Many of the attacks on the night were set up by Brittany Cafiero, who finished with 37 assists and 12 digs. Cafiero now has 3,020 assists for her career, the fourth highest mark in program history.
The University of Scranton volleyball team returns to action on Friday evening, taking part in the Brockport Golden Eagle Invitational, as they open play with a match against Fredonia. First serve is set for 5 p.m.
--ROYALS--
