Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (11/8/2016) – A 2-0 advantage, built on strong team defense and a balanced offensive front, was key for Chestnut Hill College, who used their lead to secure a 3-1 (25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 25-12) Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) over the University of the Sciences (USciences). Junior right side Samantha Gelfan (Chandler, Ariz.) topped the Scarlet and Gold offensive production with 10 kills on a .421 (10K-2E-19TA) hitting percentage,  meanwhile senior libero Regina Trabosh (Norristown, Pa.) captained a defensive effort that featured four Griffins in double-digit digs, two others with nine, and a five team blocks.
 
Chestnut Hill College (12-14, 10-7) separated from USciences (6-16, 4-14) on the serve of junior defensive specialist Peyton Reno (Wilmington, Del.) as six straight points awarded the Griffins an early 7-4 advantage over the Devils. From there, USciences only came within one point (9-8) of Chestnut Hill College, never tying them in a 25-22 final (1-0).
 
Separation came later in the frame as a series of Devil errors allowed Chestnut Hill College to emerge from an 18-18 tie for a 25-20 set win (2-0). Freshmen, middle hitter Chase Cooksey (Herndon, Va.) and outside hitter Samantha Smith (Harrisburg, Pa.) played a major role in the victory, combining for seven kills on a .300 (7K-1E-20TA) hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Kennedy Sutton (Chesapeake, Va.) made ten of her 32 assists in the frame while Cooksey helped Trabosh command the defense with a pair of blocks.
 
The Griffins hoped to end the night in three sets, but an 11-1 Devil lead eventually precipitated a 25-21 home win (2-1). Chestnut Hill College picked away at the early USciences lead, gradually closing the deficit to three points, 20-17, after a pair of Devil miscues. Still, the lead was enough to keep the Scarlet and Gold at bay.
 
Fortunately, the fourth set was the anomaly of the evening as Chestnut Hill College shot out to a 17-6 advantage, primarily on Trabosh's service. Her first round behind the backline produced a 5-0 lead and the second added six points to an 11-6 lead as the Griffins feasted under Sutton's direction. The Scarlet and Gold produced a .500 (16K-1E-30TA) hitting percentage off her point play to close the match (3-1) with a decisive 25-12 set victory.
 
Five Griffins killed five balls of more. Gelfan recorded the most, but Sutton was the most dynamic, scoring eight kills on a .636 (8K-1E-11TA) hitting percentage and recording nine digs in addition to her assists. Trabosh totaled 20 digs in all; sophomore outside hitter Emma Mull (Jeannette, Pa.) (11), freshman outside hitter Reily Byxbee (Indianapolis, Ind.) (10), and senior outside hitter Madison McBride (Long Beach, Calif.) (10) joined her in double digits. Gelfan also topped the Griffins' blocking efforts with three (one solo, two assisted).  
 
The Chestnut Hill College women's volleyball team continues their CACC schedule on Thursday, November 10, when they visit Philadelphia University for a 6:00 p.m. opening serve.