Cheshire's Gunneson Helps Lift SCSU Volleyball to Thrilling Victory

Cheshire’s Kelly Gunneson, a junior on the Southern Connecticut State University women’s volleyball team, helped lift the Owls to a thrilling five-set victory over Southern New Hampshire University in a crucial Northeast-10 match Friday night in New Haven.

Gunneson had 14 kills and seven digs to go along with one blocked shot.

Sophomore Nicole Hauser (Stevens Point, Wisc.) finished the night with a season-high 20 assists. She posted five errors on 27 attack attempts for a .298 hitting percentage and 13 kills to notch her third double-double.

With the win, the Owls improved to 6-13 and 3-5 in the Northeast-10 Conference.

Southern New Hampshire (11-8, 3-4 NE-10) took control early in the first set, 19-7, before taking set one from the hosts 25-18.

The Owls came out for vengeance in the second set, securing a 25-15 win over the Penmen.

Southern New Hampshire fought back in the next set taking a 15-4 lead over the Owls. Southern Connecticut managed a short run, but was unsuccessful dropping the third set, 25-14.

Down 2-1, the Owls needed the fourth set to keep the match alive. It was a point-by-point battle throughout the set until the Owls closed the frame on a 6-3 run (25-19) following a Southern New Hampshire timeout.

In the fifth and final match of the day, Southern Connecticut finished strong with an 8-3 run to defeat the Penmen, 15-12.

Sophomore Faith Ford (New Britain, Conn.) registered nine kills, while junior Taylor Carlson (Centennial, Colo.) led the offensive attack with a team-high 26 assists.

Sophomore Briauna Tutwiler (Maricopa, Ariz.) and freshman Alexandria Jurgens (Cornwall, N.Y.) registered a team-high six blocks a piece for the Owls defense.

Southern Connecticut returns to Pelz Gymnasium tomorrow (Oct. 18th) as the team welcomes Stonehill College in a Northeast-10 Conferenc clash. First serve is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. as part of Homecoming Weekend.

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