WATERBURY, Conn.- The Caldwell University women's volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on day one of the Post University Tournament to open their season. The Cougars came up short to Le Moyne College 3-2 and lost to NYIT 3-1.
 
The Cougars fall to 2-6 on the season.
 
In their opening match, Le Moyne took the opening set 25-22 but the Cougars battled back to win the next two set 25-19 and 25-22. The Dolphins took the final two sets 25-19 and 17-15.   
 
Sophomore Marina Schlaepfer (Aurora Colo.) tallied 17 kills, 11 digs and six total blocks. Katie Compagno (Orland Park, Ill.) chipped in 13 kills, two aces and three blocks.
 
Freshman Elise Smith (O'Fallon, Ill.) posted 13 kills and 11 digs, while freshman Humiko Stormer (Luckey, Ohio) recorded 20 digs. Freshman Samantha Ashton (Colonia, N.J.) netted 23 assists and nine digs, while senior Jordan Hoffman (Colorado Springs, Colo.) posted 19 assists and 13 digs. Freshman Olivia Bellamy (Davison, Mich.) finished with six total blocks, while freshman Demetria Gary (Savannah, Ga.) recorded 10 blocks.
 
Caldwell closed out day one with a 3-1 loss to NYIT. The Cougars took the opening set 25-19 before falling 25-21, 25-16 and a thrilling 34-32 set four loss.
 
Smith tallied 18 kills along with eight digs and two blocks. Schlaepfer added 14 kills, nine digs and two blocks, while sophomore Chloe Kissner (Seabrook, Texas) recorded nine kills and 11 digs.
 
Compagno posted nine kills and six blocks, while Bellamy netted five blocks. Ashton recorded 29 assists and seven digs, while freshman Sophie Hicks (Christchurch, New Zealand /) chipped in 16 assists. Stormer led the way with 17 digs.
 
The Cougars conclude play at the Post Tournament on Saturday, September 9 as they take on the Daemen College at 9:30 am and Bentley University at 5:30 pm.