HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (Sept. 21, 2017)- Senior Amanda Fullem (Linden, N.J. / Mother Seton), sophomore Brielle Gensinger (Blairstown, N.J. / Warren County Tech.), and fellow classmate Nicci Veras (Newark, N.J. / Shabazz) each tallied four kills apiece as the Centenary University volleyball team dropped their Colonial States Athletic Conference opener, 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-17) to Gwynedd-Mercy University on Thursday evening.

Liz Schule finished with eight kills and five aces for the Griffins who improve to 4-10 overall and 1-2 in the CSAC. Junior Melissa Krueger (Long Valley, N.J. / West Morris Central) nearly collected a double-double with 12 assists and nine digs for the Cyclones who fall to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in the CSAC.

Despite the loss, Centenary stayed competitive through all three sets. The Cyclones posted a higher attacking percentage in the first (.148) and the third (-.069) sets.  For the match, the Griffins did take a slight edge on kills (22-19) and assists (19-16), while both squads posted an even number of team digs (43). The difference clearly proved to be in the service aces (20-1).

GMercyU collected about five aces per set, including closing the match with seven in a highly competitive third set. Centenary trailed 5-1 early, but rallied behind five straight points from Veras for a 7-5 advantage. The Clones traded the lead back and forth with the Griffins, before seven straight points from Cassie McCarney put Gwynedd back in front at 19-13.

Fullem finished with eight digs, including a solo block, while Gensinger added eight digs and Veras notched seven digs. Junior Valentina Suizzo (North Haledon, N.J. / Eastern Christian) totaled eight digs and three kills, while freshman Leandra Garcia (Plainfield, N.J. / Central Jersey College Prep) added three kills. Cait Saalfrank finished with 19 digs and seven aces, while Kerry McGlinn totaled 18 assists and Abreeanna Bisenius finished with seven kills.

Head Coach Kelsey Walter will return to action in Immaculata, Pa. on Saturday, Sept. 23^rd, against the Mighty Macs of Immaculata University at 1:00 p.m.