The UConn women’s volleyball team dominated their home tournament this weekend as they took on Delaware State, UAlbany and Dartmouth, emerging victorious from all three games. The group extended their undefeated run to 9-0, giving them the best start of a season and beating their total wins last season.
The Huskies started the weekend beating Delaware State 3-0. UConn started the game strong with back-to-back aces from junior Emma Werkmeister, setting the Huskies up to an 11-7 lead early in the first set. However, a series of errors from the Huskies allowed the Hornets to go on a 6-0 run. After a timeout called by the Huskies, UConn came back to score the next seven out of nine points, which pushed Delaware to ask for a timeout. Following the timeout, several kills by redshirt sophomore Audrey Rome and freshman Grace Maria, and finishing off with an ace from freshman McKenna Brand gave the Huskies the first set by a margin of 25-17.
Werkmeister started the team off strong in the second set with two kills right out of the gate. UConn also got to show off their defensive skills with blocks from graduate student Taylor Pannell and Maria. This, along with back-to-back aces from senior Doga Kutlu gave the Huskies a 15-8 lead in the second set. The Hornets attempted a comeback; however, a big kill from freshman Loren Winn put their hopes to bed and gave UConn the second set by 25-20. UConn continued the positive momentum into the third. Thanks to kills from both Pannell and Werkmeister, the Huskies earned the lead. Despite the teams trading several errors, UConn was able to maintain a small four-point lead over the Hornets. Great plays from Kutlu, Werkmeister and Maria helped lead the Huskies into a 25-16 win in the third set, giving UConn their sixth consecutive win this season.
Next up, the Huskies took on UAlbany and earned a narrow win. UConn struggled at the start of the game after great plays from UAlbany put the Huskies behind in the early moments of the first set. However, an ace from Werkmeister and a block from Winn helped the team cut the Great Danes’ lead 12-9. The Huskies came back to tie the set after putting up a four-point run. After the teams traded service sets, back-to-back kills from Werkmeister and Rome, along with a 6-0 run from the Huskies gave them the 25-20 win.
UConn came off strong in the second set with multiple kills from Pannell, Werkmeister and Kutlu. However, the Great Danes came back to tie the set at eight points and went on a run of their own, taking the 15-12 lead. Errors from UAlbany allowed UConn to get back within a point of the Danes and tie the game 23-23. At the tail end of the set, kills from Winn and Rome gave the Huskies the set.
Both teams started the third set strong with the Danes taking the lead; however, three kills from Pannell kept the Huskies in the game. The Danes continued their strong performance and took the set by a small margin of 25-23. UAlbany continued their positive momentum into the fourth set, looking to tie the game. Eventually, UAlbany took the fourth set by 25-23, tying the game and leading to a fifth decisive set. The Huskies struggled at the start of the fifth set by 15-10. However, impressive performances from Werkmeister and junior Hanna Tylska led the Huskies to victory.
In their last game this weekend, the Huskies faced Dartmouth. UConn started the game strong, looking to keep the weekend’s momentum going after their previous two wins. Tylska, Werkmeister and junior Brenna Wyman performed well on the offensive front. Good blocks from Rome and Winn helped stabilize the team’s defense. However, Dartmouth did not go down easily and came back to tie the set at 19 points. A strong performance from Dartmouth junior Kauany Gutz, who scored eight kills, gave the first set to the Big Green. The second set started with UConn on the defensive, with great blocks from Rome. Great plays from Winn and Kutlu helped put UConn ahead, and great finishing plays by Pannell won the second set for the Huskies, 25-16. Both teams struggled in the beginning of the third set; however, great kills from Werkmeister helped put UConn in the lead. The Huskies continued their strong defensive and offensive efforts, taking the third set 25-18, and edging ahead of Dartmouth by one. Coming into the fourth set, Dartmouth was plagued by errors, which UConn capitalized on and got the early lead. From there, the Huskies dominated the set and won 25-14, winning their ninth consecutive game and making history for the program with their best season start yet.