Chestnut Hill College Athletics

In the final regular season game for the Chestnut Hill college women's volleyball team, the Griffins honored their senior players prior to the contest and then went out and defeated Dominican University 3-0 at Sorgenti Arena in Philadelphia.

The Griffins finish the regular season with an 11-5 record in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference matches, their most conference victories since going 11-8 in 2019.  Overall, the Griffins improved to 13-13.  The Chargers finish the regular season at 8-8 in league play and 10-20 overall.  Chestnut Hill will host a conference playoff game for the first time in their Division II history next Tuesday.

Chestnut Hill fought off a comeback attempt by the Chargers to win the first set 25-23 then cruised to a 25-19 win in the second set.  The Griffins then rallied to earn a 25-22 win in the third set to complete the sweep.

Prior to the match the Griffins honored three players who will be graduating this May; middle hitter/blocker Angela April; setter Mia Caporellie; and libero/defensive specialist Torrin Kelley.  In three seasons (no season in 2020 due to pandemic) the trio have produced 41 wins for the Griffins and will be making their second consecutive playoff appearance.  April, Caporellie and Kelley have excelled not only on the court but in the classroom as well earning numerous academic awards and accolades over the course of their careers.  All three are also making their mark in the Griffins' record book, ranking among Chestnut Hill's all-time leaders statistically.

In the match, Erika Dubosky led all players with 14 kills.  Kate Hanley had a season-high nine kills while Pamela Uceta also added nine.    Caporellie and Hanley had three aces apiece with Caporellie also dishing out a match-high 36 assists.

Dubosky and Caporellie led all players with ten digs apiece with Kelley adding seven.  Uceta and April had two blocks apiece.

The Griffins used a 10-2 run in the first half to break a 7-7 tie and take a commanding 17-9 lead.  The Chargers.  Dominican charged right back however, producing a 9-3 run to close within two 20-18. CHC scored the next two points, but the Chargers then added three straight to pull within one 22-21.  The two teams exchanged points over the next four rallies before a service error by Dominican gave the Griffins a 25-23 win in the set.

Four ties in the first ten rallies highlighted the opening on the second set before the Griffins scored four straight points, two off service aces from Hanley to take a 9-5 lead.  The Chargers scored four of the next five points to close within one, 10-9.  The Griffins then ran off five straight points, with three consecutive kills and two aces from Caporellie to top it off, taking a 15-9 lead.  The Griffins led by as many as seven down the stretch before April's kill clinched a win in the set, 25-19.

Natalie Albin served five straight points early in the final set as the Griffins jumped out to an 8-3 lead.  Dominican chipped away at the lead, eventually pulling ahead 18-17 following a third straight kill from Kaitlyn Carr (team-high 14 kills).  Kills from Caporellie and Dubosky put the Griffins back on top, but the Chargers continued to battle, tying the set three times, the last at 22-22 before the Griffins put away the match, scoring the last three points.  April was involved in the first two with a kill then a block alongside teammate Uceta.  Dubosky then served up an ace to win the set 25-22 and complete the three set sweep.

The women's volleyball team, as the #2 seed in the CACC south division will host Dominican, the #3 seed in the north, on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.  Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.