Blue Devil Invitational Day 2

More detail will follow in a play by play post tomorrow, but here’s the summation.

Bucknell vs. Iona
Iona picked up a win in 3 straight sets, 25-16, 25-21, 25-14 then turned around and took on Central.

Central vs. Iona
This would prove to be the match of the day as the two teams both entered undefeated in the tournament 2-0.
In Set 1, Iona managed to put Central away 25-14, but in set 2 Central pulled out to a lead, but Iona roared back and the two approached 25 points without the 2 point cushion needed for victory. The two sides went back and forth until a Blue Devil ace flew off of the defense and gave CCSU a 29-27 win.
It was another close set in set 3, as the the two teams also broke 25, and reached 27-25 on a block.  Iona however was not intered in surrendering and battled back to a 25-16 win in set number 4. With 2 sets apiece the teams entered Set 5 which would be to 15 points instead of 25. This was also a close one as Iona catugh up to an Central lead, but was only able to tie central before the Blue Devils put them away 15-13.

Stony Brook then arrived to take on Bucknell.
For the Bisons of Bucknell it was their last chance to get a victory before heading home, for Stony Brook it was their first chance to earn one in the tournament after losing to Iona the day before.
Bucknell fought hard but the Seawolves pounded them with spikes for a 25-18, 25-19, and 25-22 win in 3 straight sets. Bucknell really gave it their all in set 3 to try to stave elimination.

Stony Brook vs. Central

Central had beaten Iona. Iona had beaten Stony Brook, perhaps Central was in line to beat Stony Brook…perhaps.
Set 1 opened up in dramatic fashion. Stony Brook moved out to a 17-24 lead and just needed one more point to win the set, but Central wouldn’t let that happen coming back to a 24-24 tie. the two teams then battled to try to get the two straight points they need to put the other team away, and the set kept going and going and going with the momentum shifting, until with the score 37-38 Stony Brook, they aced a serve to win 39-37. Stony Brook had a relatively easier time winning set two with a 25-19 win, but the Blue Devils were not done. Stony Brook pulled ahead to a 16-21 lead, but Central battled back to 25-23 victory snatching a set win from the clutches of defeat.  Set 4 also had its ups and downs with Stony Brook watching their 23-18 lead slip to 24-22, only to win with a spike to clinch the match and set.

I don’t think I can put into words just how exciting a volleyball game is to watch, but I will try.