It's Official, We're Back! Volleyball Opens 2021 Season With Back-to-Back Tri-Matches - Southern Connecticut State University Athletics (2024)

Southern Connecticut Volleyball (0-0)
vs. Dominican College (0-0)
vs. Queens College (0-0)
Date: Friday, September 3 | Time: 3 PM + 7 PM | Location: Pelz Gymnasium (New Haven, Conn.)
Live Stats | Live Video

All-Time Against Dominican: 12-1
The Last Time They Met: The Owls and Chargers last met in the first outing of the 2019 season with SCSU capturing the victory, 3-1. Erika Benson and Abigail Epstein led all players with a game-high 12 kills each. Epstein also led with a game-high six aces and team-high two blocks.

All-Time Against Queens: 9-3
The Last Time They Met: These two squads last met on September 9, 2019 when the Owls swept the Knights. Erika Benson and Abigail Epstein once again led all players with a game-high eight kills each.

All-Time Against Bloomfield College: 9-3
The Last Time They Met: It's been a few years since these two programs faced each other with their last meeting coming on September 9, 2017. Gabriela Vazquez led the team in kills that game with 12 en route to the Owls victory.

All-Time Against Saint Rose: 5-7
The Last Time They Met: SCSU and Saint Rose last met during the 2019 season where the Owls took a dominate sweeping victory behind solid performances from Jennifer Dawson (11 kills), Anna Venard and Gabriela Gaibur (15 digs each), and Tea Carter (37 assists).

A Look Back
This will be the first match for the squad since November 19, 2019 when the Owls fell to the No. 1-seeded Bentley in the 2019 Northeast 10 Conference Quarterfinals. Southern Connecticut's 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early Thoughts
Head Coach Lisa Barbaro said, "This is a very new and young team that has a lot of talent. We're eager to get started and continue to grow and connect as a team. Excited for the opportunity to get out there and compete after a year of not competing."

Look Who's Back
SCSU returns seven players from 2019 season;graduate student Abigail Epstein, seniors Megan Mercer, Erika Benson, Sophia Castellano and Jamie Allen, and juniors Gabriela Gaibur and Kylie Greenberg.

"Thrilled to have Abby (Epstein) back," Barbaro said. "She came to us as a junior college transfer and immediately had an impact for us in her first year (2019) as an All-Conference player and as a go-to offensive threat for us in the middle. After having her senior season canceled, this is a big opportunity for Abby to come back hungrier and pick up where she left off in 2019 with the chance to finish out her career the right way on her own terms."

Epstein will be one of the returners to watch this season. She was a mainstay of the Owls offense in 2019 which earned her Second Team All-Conference honors. Epstein was also one of the most consistent forces in the conference,averaging 2.50 kills per set and 0.73 blocks per set. She amassed275 total kills, which was ninth in the conference and 80 blocks, which was fifth in conference, while having a season hitting percent average of .258, which was 11th in the conference. Epstein accounted for 360 of Southern Connecticut's points during the season.

Southern Connecticut also welcomed Krishnalei So'oto, Kacey Deecher, Lillee Olson, and Taylor Jonesduring the 2020-2021 pandemic season, all who will be eager to hit the court for their first official season in an Owls uniform.

Newcomers
This 2021 squad also features five newcomers with Payton Reis (transfer from New Haven), Layla Cortez, Heliceliz Rivera (transfer from Norfolk State), Lily Miller, and Gabriela Vazquez. Vazquez is a familiar face for the Owls as she was on the program's first ever Northeast 10 Championship squad in 2018.

On the return of Vazquez, Barbaro said, "I'm very excited to have Gaby back. She has been a huge asset to our program since she got here and part of the turnaround and overall success of this program. She's worked extremely hard, but beyond her talent and ability, she offers experience and leadership for our young group. I'm looking forward to seeing her back out there in her element."