Text-Only Site

Volleyball Soars to Sweep of Dean, Valley Forge in First NCAA Home Contests

Nick George
Nick George

DELHI, N.Y. (September 3, 2018) – SUNY Delhi women's volleyball began their NCAA chapter and 2018 season Sunday in undefeated fashion, sweeping Dean and Valley Forge in a home tri-match. The Broncos began the day muzzling the Bulldogs on their way to a four-set victory, then finished by rallying from a 2-1 deficit to snag a 3-2 tiebreaking victory over the Patriots. Head coach Beau Bracchy's team is off to their first 2-0 start since 2015.

Prior to the matches, SUNY Delhi Vice President for Student Life Tomas Aguirre, Director of Athletics Bob Backus and Associate Athletics Director Cathy Foto joined the women's volleyball team in a ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate the Broncos' first official home contests as NCAA Division III members. As of Saturday, the institution began its first year of its NCAA provisional membership after a successful exploratory season during the 2017-18 academic year.

SUNY DELHI 3, DEAN 1

SUNY Delhi and Dean split the first two sets, with the Broncos taking the first set, 25-21, and the Bulldogs earning the second by a 25-17 score. The third set began as a back-and-forth affair, with both teams tied at 15-15. The Broncos snagged the next three points as they went on a 10-2 run down the stretch to take the set, 25-17. Ahead, 20-15, in the clinching fourth set, Delhi held off a late Dean threat and captured the game, 26-24, for victory number one.

Freshman Caitlyn Curcurito led the contest with 15 kills, while Kristen Maslanka totaled 12 kills and Taylor Tsatsis registered 10 kills. Erica Prindle set up 28 assists, while Ashley Hintz led with 31 digs and three service aces.

SUNY DELHI 3, VALLEY FORGE 2

The Broncos stormed out of the gate to take a commanding 25-10 win in the first set. The Patriots, though, answered back to win a close second set, 25-22, and set three by a 25-14 score. Facing what would be a game-clinching fourth set for UVF, Delhi stepped up to the challenge by taking as much as a nine-point lead at 18-9 on their way to force a tiebreaking set with a 25-19 win. The Broncos and Patriots battled to a tight fifth set, with Delhi holding an 8-7 lead at the halfway point. Tied at 12-12, the Broncos took control and grabbed the final three points for a 15-12 win and the victory.

Kristen Maslanka led the way with 16 kills and 21 digs, with Caitlyn Curcurito right behind her in the scoring category with 12 kills. Erica Prindle logged a team-best 20 assists and five services aces, along with 14 digs. Taylor Tsatsis finished with 17 assists, eight kills and nine digs. Defensive specialist Madison Saleman earned ten digs, along with one service ace.