WAYNE, N.J. – The Centenary University women's volleyball team returned to action Friday evening, falling to William Paterson University, 3-1, inside the Sports and Recreation Center. The Cyclones (1-1) dropped the opening two sets before battling back to take the third. William Paterson earned the victory by set scores of 25-19, 25-11, 23-25 and 25-12.
Centenary battled throughout the opening set, recording nine kills on 27 attempts for a .148 hitting percentage. The Pioneers pulled away to take the frame, 25-19, and grab an early 1-0 advantage. William Paterson carried the momentum into the second set, using an efficient offensive attack to earn a 25-11 victory and move within one set of the match.
Facing a 2-0 deficit, the Cyclones responded in the third. Centenary stayed within striking distance throughout the frame before making its push late. The Cyclones fought off William Paterson and closed out a tightly contested 25-23 set victory to extend the match. The Pioneers answered in the fourth, taking the final frame, 25-12, to secure the 3-1 victory.
Poppy Skjonnemand led the Centenary attack with nine kills while adding nine digs and three service aces. Gabriella Miller and Helen Bilomasur each finished with six kills. Miller also made an impact from the service line, recording a team-high four aces. Adrienne Xiao directed the Cyclones' offense with 12 assists while adding three service aces and six digs. Brooke Dykhouse contributed six assists. Defensively, Rey Bennett led Centenary with 15 digs. Skjonnemand followed with nine, while Xiao and Clarissa Cordova each recorded six.
Centenary finished the match with 23 kills, 22 assists, 55 digs and 12 service aces. The Cyclones held a 12-11 advantage over the Pioneers from the service line.
Bilomasur helped lead Centenary at the net with one solo block and one block assist, while Skjonnemand, Ava Estrada and Britney Keeney each contributed a block assist.
The loss moves the Cyclones to 1-1 on the season.
