With a 3-1 loss to Trinity University, the No. 2 Violets ended their dominant season.
The NYU women’s volleyball team lost 1-3 to Trinity University. (Courtesy of NYU Athletics)
The NYU women’s volleyball team ended its strong season on a low note with a loss to Trinity University on Thursday, Nov. 17 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Violets made an incredible run to the Final Four, dropping just four sets in their first four tournament games in dominant form in the regional rounds.
Trinity advanced in the tournament after defeating No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and No. 18 MIT en route to the Final Four.
The Violets got off to a great start in Thursday’s competition, winning the first set 25-21. That early optimism was quickly dashed by the Tigers, who won the next three sets to clinch the match.
The first set was the only frame in which NYU was able to beat Trinity, recording 17 kills on a .262 hitting percentage to the Tigers’ 13 at .19.
In the last three sets, the Violets lost 39-33. NYU still held a 16-8 advantage in the fourth frame, looking to take a decisive fifth set before Trinity went on a 17-5 run to book a trip to the national championship.
The Tigers’ experience against elite opposition came into play as they were always able to pull away when it looked like NYU was starting to make a comeback.
Despite the loss, NYU’s elite group of hitters has been particularly outstanding this season, with sophomore Olivia Lewandowski, senior Haley Holtz and senior Gabriela Spaelting registering over 250 kills. Holtz led the team in points, kills and aces and averaged more than four points per set. She is set to return next season to continue her career with the Violets.
Three Violets also earned AVCA All-America Awards, including first-team Holtz, second-team libero/defensive specialist Lindsay Hirano and third-team middle blocker Lila Anvekar.
Although they didn’t win the conference, the Violets’ hitting was among the best in the nation, and they tied for the best record in program history since 2004.
Contact Pablo Acaris at [email protected]
