WEST HARTFORD, CT -- Pratt came from behind in the fifth set for a 3-2 win over Pine Manor College and dropped a 3-0 decision to host University of St. Joseph at the Blue Jays tri-match in non-conference women's volleyball Saturday afternoon.
Freshman Hannah Calderwood totaled a career-high 12 kills in the win, tying with junior Diana Lezama for match-high honors, as the Cannoneers outlasted the Gators in a see saw 23-25, 25-15, 25-13, 18-25, 15-12 triumph.
Trailing 8-5 in the deciding set, Pratt rattled off a 7-0 run that ultimately decided the match. A Charlotte Burch kill preceded an Alli Houghton ace, and Nicole Garcia's kill capped the critical 7-0 run, giving the Cannoneers the lead for good and lifting the team to 3-1 on the season.
Houghton led all players with career-bests of 31 assists and 11 service aces in totaling the first double-double from a Cannoneer this season. Calderwood also dominated the defensive side of the net, leading all players with a solo block and a block assist.
"Off the momentum from the first win, the team put in a solid effort against St. Joseph with a great rally to take control in the third set," said head coach Patricia Keenan. "But the Blue Jays regained control and finished the game out."
A Houghton kill sparked a 6-2 run that pulled Pratt to within 11-13 in the opening set against St. Joseph, but the Blue Jays scored 12 of the final 17 points to take a 25-16 win. In Game 2, Lezama's attack error put St. Joseph in front 6-12 before an 8-1 Jays run led to the team's 25-12 win.
Pratt had Blue Jays on the ropes in a considerably closer third set that featured 14 ties before St. Joseph pulled away for good. With the game knotted at 19-19, a Lezama kill and Blue Jays error put Pratt on top 21-19. St. Joseph answered, as pair of Pratt attack errors with a Megan Williams kill and an Amanda Dondero service ace in between closed out a 25-23 come-from-behind win.
Pratt totaled 23 attack errors, hitting -.038 in the loss. Lezama led all players with 19 digs.
At 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in conference play, Pratt resumes its Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletics Conference slate on Tuesday at the ARC against the College of New Rochelle at 7:30.
