CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University women's volleyball graduate Shayna Saltzman (Pine Beach, N.J.) posted a season high 21 assists as the University of Bridgeport defeated the Cougars 3-1 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest.

The Cougars fall to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The Purple Knights improve to 2-8 and 1-1 in conference play.

The first set saw the Purple Knights play with extreme tempo taking a four-point lead. The Cougars drew even after two aces and a kill by senior Mary Grace Hartmann (Cutchogue, N.Y.) and a kill by freshman Wyette Schubert-Brown (Chatsworth, N.J.) making the score 15-15.  Following the Purple Knights timeout, they would take the lead and win the set using a 5-point run to win 25-18.

After falling behind 9-2 in Set two, the Cougars once again built momentum following 3 kills all assisted by junior Reese Sherwood (Salem Ore.). The Cougars also stepped up defensively with Hartmann and Schubert- Brown assisting for a block which made the Newman Center erupt. Saltzman used quick sets to score four assists to set up the Cougars at the net. The Purple Knights would hold the advantage at 20-14 and win the set 25-17.

Set three was entirely the Cougars. They opened the set with five consecutive points including two aces by Saltzman. The Cougars maintained this lead with superb touch around the net.  Schubert-Brown and Hartmann used well placed spikes to bring the Cougars lead up to 10-2. The Purple Knights cut the lead down, but Caldwell contested every spot on the floor. With this pressure the Cougars were within striking distance up 21-20. Fantastic digs by the Cougars backline and the serve of sophomore Karin Ojeda (Toms River, N.J.) would place the Cougars on set point. Ojeda fired a ball that dropped once it cleared the net for one of the biggest aces of the match. The Cougars would finish the job winning the third set 25-20.

Set four was the most competitive. Both teams battled with multiple points having to be earned following long volleys. Freshman Amber Gallo (Toms River, N.J.) stunned the crowd multiple times with outstanding digs to keep the Cougars attacking at the net. Junior Amanda Schlitz (Durham, N.C.) finished effectively at the net resorting to clever off-speed hits as well as a backhand to score two kills. Saltzman also kept her dominant day up scoring four assists the set. The Cougars used this full team effort to take a 19-17 lead. The Purple Knights would close the gap and win set four 25-20 to win the match.  

Sherwood led the team in kills with 12, while adding 15 assists, two total blocks and six digs. Schlitz tallied two solo blocks, two block assists along with eight kills. Hartmann posted eight kills, three total blocks (one solo) and three service aces. Graduate Humiko Stormer (Luckey, Ohio) led the team in digs with 12, with Gallo and Saltzman both finishing with nine each.

Caldwell travels to Alliance University for a CACC match on Wednesday September 14 at 7:00 pm.