This past Friday the Bulldogs won over Columbia. In the last regular season campaign, the team fell to Cornell on Saturday in a hard-fought five-set match. Still, entering the weekend, just one win was enough for them to clinch at least a share of the Ivy League title. 

Yale’s dominance marked another chapter in their storied program history, as 14th Ivy League volleyball regular season championship — and 13th under head coach Erin Appleman. The Bulldogs will proceed to play in the Ivy League tournament. 

“We were looking forward to this weekend for a number of reasons,” said Laurece Abraham ’27. “Our main goal was to come together as a team and come out of this weekend with another Ivy League championship under our belt. Thanks to our amazing coaches and a team effort, we did just that.”

Yale overcame an early challenge from Columbia to secure a 27-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-12 win. The Bulldogs’ offensive power surged in the third and fourth sets, hitting an impressive .533 and .480, respectively.

Setter Carly Diehl ’25 came close to a triple-double, posting 46 assists, ten kills and six digs. Betsy Goodenow ’27, the reigning Ivy League Player of the Week, contributed 13 kills and 12 digs while hitting .308. Yale dominated from the service line, recording 10 aces, including four from Cara Shultz ’25 and three from Mila Yarich ’25. Arya Jue ’27 anchored the defense with a match-high 17 digs.

With the win, Yale improved to 12–1 standing in the Ivy League and 17–4 overall this season, cementing their status as conference champions.

“I think our success is because we put the work in at practice, and we are held accountable by our great coaches,” said Goodenow. “Having fun and winning is also made easier when you play with amazing people, and we have lots of amazing people.”

A hard-fought five-set loss to Cornell in Ithaca, New York, tempered the weekend’s celebration. The Bulldogs started strong, taking the first two sets 27-25 and 26-24, but the Big Red rallied to win the final three sets 23-25, 18-25 and 11-15.

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs showcased their resilience. Goodenow led Yale with 18 kills and 15 digs, while Yarich added 11 kills, including the final two points of the second set to break a 24-24 tie. Three other Bulldogs — Barr, Yarich and Lauren Kellen ’26 — hit double figures in kills. Diehl maintained her stellar form, tallying 47 assists, ten digs and five error-free kills.

“I think we are excited to get back in the gym, work to get better, and try to correct some of the things that maybe we need to get better at in order to battle Cornell,” said Appleman. “I thought it was a great battle and I’m excited to have an opportunity to get out there and play again.”

The Bulldogs finished the regular season 12–2 in conference play, securing the No. 2 seed in the Ivy League tournament. This Friday, Yale will face No. 3-seed Cornell in a rematch in Princeton, New Jersey.

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Spinning the volleyball high off her fingertips and into the air, matching the drop with a calculated jump, Shultz’s swing sends the ball whizzing toward the opponent on a violent downward arc. This is the Shultz Serve.

In Glenmoore, a small town outside Philadelphia, Shultz grew up the second youngest of four girls. Like most of younger sisters, she imitated what her older sisters did, and when her sister Renee Shultz ’22 brought volleyball back home, Shultz took up the sport too.

“I would tag along at their practices, and while they were being coached, my dad would take me to another court and pass a ball with me,” Shultz said. “Neither of us knew what we were doing, but I loved it, and I begged him to let me play on a real team.”

A year later, Shultz mastered the underhand serve, which signaled to her dad that she was finally ready to play on “a real team.” For her, volleyball was love at first sight.

She described volleyball as a connector to her dad. To better help his daughters, he would watch old volleyball games and listen to Karch Kiraly talk about volleyball philosophy. He coached all of the Shultz girls in middle school and continued to help them with their athletic careers.

“I think he had fun with it, and it’s a big reason why I still have fun with it,” she said. “Even today I’m still able to talk about the sport with my dad, which is something I really value in our relationship.”

When Shultz was a freshman in high school, her older sister, Renee, committed to play volleyball at Yale. Shultz, however, wasn’t thinking much about recruiting yet. Instead, she was focusing on surviving freshman year. However, when her time to commit came around, she said, she “couldn’t imagine [herself] anywhere else but Yale.”

“Selfishly, I also really wanted to play on the same team as [Renee], as we’re really close,” Shultz told the News. “Or rather, I knew that I never wanted to play against her, as we’re both really competitive and I value our relationship too much to compete against her.”

Shultz committed to Yale in 2018. 

When she first arrived on campus, the COVID-19 pandemic had just peaked, so her first year on campus looked dramatically different from the Yale she had seen Renee experience.

After taking a leave of absence in the spring 2021, she returned a better volleyball player, but more than that, someone with perspective.

“I think in my first year I was so excited to play volleyball and so grateful to be here, and that was it,” Shultz said. “I’m still so excited to still be playing volleyball, and I am forever grateful to be a student here, but I also think I have a lot more perspective now. I’m very grateful to be able to have the opportunity to get a Yale education, and I now know that that will serve me for far longer than a volleyball career ever will. First-year me didn’t really understand that.”

Now, in her senior year, Shultz is a mainstay in the Yale Volleyball lineup. Her most consistent appearance comes when Head Coach Erin Appleman substitutes her in to serve.

Shultz’s serve, she says, is something she constantly works on. A product of her dad’s time playing volleyball at the YMCA, Shultz began to develop the serve during her second year playing volleyball at around 9 years old. She watched a few collegiate greats like Micha Hancock, taking notes from their play. Because of its uniqueness to the women’s game — with a lot of players opting for the control that float serves offer — her coaches encouraged her to keep practicing it.

She credits the help of Appleman, Assistant Coach Kevin Laseau and Assistant Coach John Post for their guidance on and off the court. She says together they are “the best coaching staff a team could ask for” and as a senior, she feels like she can “talk to them about anything.”

After 14 years of topspin serving, Shultz is one of the best in the game. She is currently second all-time in Yale history for service aces — 140 — with at least two games remaining in her final season. She is also ranked second all-time in most service aces in a single season — 59.

“Shultz’s serve is one of the greatest weapons we have,” Laseau wrote to the News. “It is really hard to pass and it puts a tremendous amount of stress on the opposing team, which makes teams easier to defend, which leads to great offense for us.”

Laseau also noted that her “fearless defense” and the fact that “she simply doesn’t stop” contributes significantly to the success of the volleyball team.

Captain Bella Chan ’25 echoed her coach’s words.

“Shultz brings so much energy to the team,” she said. “She’s animated, always cheering us on, and plays tenacious, fearless defense, never hesitating to put her body on the line. Our team gets fired up every time Shultz serves — she has one of the strongest serves in the league, consistently making a huge impact in our games.”

The Shultz Serve, though excellent, is not fool-proof.

“Boy when it fails, it is a spectacular failure,” she said. “I’ve had some embarrassing misses. When that happens, it’s important to remember the broader goal of playing volleyball — to win the game. You can’t do that if you’re consistently missing every serve. When I miss several top spin serves in a row, or the team needs me to be less risky with my serve, it’s as simple as me opting to go for a standing float serve.”

Chan wrote highly of Shultz as a teammate.

“Shultz has been a huge part of my Yale Volleyball experience. She’s always been a supportive teammate to me who motivates me to be better, and I’m grateful to share this last season with her.”

This team-above-self character is more than evident in the way Shultz speaks about her teammates.

“The team has become like a second family to me,” she said. “I love each and every girl on our team so much, and I know that we are all so close with each other. We’ve done and been through so much together, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Shultz is 17 service aces away from being first all-time in Yale Volleyball history. She’ll play next against Columbia University in New York City on Nov. 15.

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The Bulldogs started strong, winning the first two sets 29–27 and 25–20. However, Brown fought back in the third set, taking it 25-18. In a decisive fourth set, Yale reasserted control to win 25-18, sealing their eighth consecutive victory in the Ivy League.

“Brown really tested us, especially in that third set,” said Laurece Abraham ’27. “It was a good challenge for us, but we found our rhythm again in the fourth set. We’re playing well as a unit and building confidence with each win.”

Outside hitter Mila Yarich ’25 shined with a season-high 15 kills and 16 digs while hitting 0.343. Right-side hitter Betsy Goodenow ’27 continued her consistent play with 13 kills, marking her streak of at least ten kills in every match this season and led the team with five blocks. 

Setter Carly Diehl ’25 delivered an all-around performance, posting 42 assists, eight digs, six kills and a season-high six service aces. She surpassed her 3,000 assist mark as a setter.

With their latest win, the Bulldogs remain on top of the Ivy League standings as they gear up for the second half of conference play. Diehl emphasized the importance of maintaining focus as the team looks to secure another Ivy League title.

“I owe [3,000 assists] all to the team I have around me and the program as a whole,” said Diehl. “This coming weekend against Penn and Princeton is a chance for us to defend our home court against two really good teams. We’re excited for the challenge and taking it all one game at a time.”

Head coach Erin Appleman agreed with Diehl, noting that the team needed to take one match at a time.

Yale will return to action next weekend, hosting the Princeton Tigers and the University of Pennsylvania Quakers in a crucial double-header as they aim to extend their winning streak and strengthen their bid for the Ivy League crown.

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In the match against UPenn, the Bulldogs displayed their tenacity and skill. Although they dropped the first set 23-25, the Elis quickly regrouped to win the next three consecutive sets 25-21, 25-14 and 25-15 to deliver a crushing blow to the Quakers. 

In Philly, a handful of Bulldogs achieved personal records. Outside hitter Payton Bryan ’27 had a record-high feat of 15 kills. Setter Carly Diehl ’25 added another 54 assists to her ongoing record and surpassed the 3,000 assist mark for her Yale career. Right-side hitter Betsy Goodenow ’27 had a match-high 16 kills and ten digs for her sixth double-double for the season.

“It’s been really nice to settle back into conference play this year.” said setter Halle Sherlock ’26. “Starting off 3–0 in conference play is definitely a great feeling. Penn and Princeton are both talented teams, so we were happy to come out with two wins this weekend.”

The following day, the Elis left Philadelphia and traveled to New Jersey to face the Tigers on their home court. The team started strong with a 25–22 win in their first set but lost their momentum in the second set falling to Princeton 19–25. The Bulldogs barked back and clinched the next two sets, delivering another 3–1 loss to an Ivy rival. 

Bryan broke the record she set just a day before and had a career-high 19 kills. The fourth set, where the Bulldogs won 28-26, featured seven ties before Yale prevailed with two consecutive points —  a kill from middle blocker Laurece Abraham ’27 and an attack error on the Tiger’s side.

“Winning against Penn and Princeton was a big boost for us, and we’re feeling pumped for the rest of the season,” said Abraham.

As they celebrate this weekend’s successes, the Bulldogs are also looking to refine their strategies for upcoming matches this month in the Ivy League Conference. 

Head Coach Erin Appleman emphasized the importance of remaining disciplined amid the long season.

“We have only played 3 Ivys, we still have 4 more to go just for the first round,” said Appleman. “We are trying to get ourselves better all the time, trying to improve everyday, working hard, getting ready. Payton Byron was Ivy Player of the week, our third sophomore in a row which was very exciting. I feel like we have a really good balanced attack.” 

The Bulldogs will continue their Ivy League campaign this weekend at home against the Cornell Big Red and the Columbia Tigers.

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In the match against JMU, the Bulldogs demonstrated their prowess, winning each set decisively. The team’s strong offensive strategy, marked by powerful spikes and strategic placements, overwhelmed the Dukes. Rightside Betsy Goodenow ’27 led the Bulldogs with 11 kills and eight digs just after earning the Yale Invitational MVP last weekend. 

She was named Ivy League player of the week for her performance at the invitational. 

“I can’t wait to show what we can do in the Ivy League this year,” said Goodenow. “The competition is always tough and we look forward to each game.”

However, the next day brought a challenging opponent for the Bulldogs as they faced off against the host team, Penn State, ranked among the top programs in the nation. 

Last year, the Bulldogs faced the Nittany Lions in the first round of the NCAA tournament and fell 3–1. The Bulldogs were eager to battle against the Lions once more and put up a spirited fight, but they struggled to maintain their rhythm against the aggressive Penn State defense. Despite taking the third set 25-23, Yale dropped the next two sets 18-25, 16-25, and the last set 13-25.

“Penn State had a great energy in their gym,” Volleyball Head Coach Erin Appleman said to the News, reflecting on the weekend. “Our team going into the match was very excited to face them again. They were the number three team in the country, so there were obviously some nerves about playing them but once we started … playing, we settled in. JMU was a great win for us. They are a very well coached team (with) good athletes.” 

Appleman added that the tournament allowed the team to play on the court and see where they need to improve before Ivy League matches begin. As they regroup after the weekend, the Bulldogs are looking ahead with optimism. The team is building on its performance and refining its strategies as it prepares for its upcoming matches. 

“We have a lot to take from this weekend,” Jaidynn Perkins-Martin ’27 added. “We’re determined to keep improving and bring that same energy into our next games.”

The Elis will be back on the court on Sept. 28 when they take on their first Ivy League opponents: the Brown University Bears. 

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The Bulldogs, who had a challenging start to the season in Charleston, demonstrated their resolve and skill by defeating Colgate, Fairfield and Villanova, each with a 3–2 scoreline. The team’s resilience and adaptability were on full display as they navigated through a series of hard-fought matches, and they showcased their potential as they head into the thick of the season.

In their opening match of the Invitational, Yale faced off against Villanova. 

The game was a thrilling back-and-forth battle, with both teams displaying their strengths. Yale emerged victorious after a gripping five-set encounter. The Bulldogs’ ability to execute crucial plays in the final set, coupled with strong performances from key players, such as Isabella Mendoza ’26, Laurece Abraham ’27 and Betsy Goodenow ’27, secured their first win of the tournament.

“Even though it’s my second season, the excitement never fades,” Abraham told the News. “It’s always a great feeling to get back on the court and see all our hard work pay off. I think we have a really strong team this year. We’ve been working well together, and there’s a lot of potential for us to have a great season. We’re all focused on improving and supporting each other.”

The second match saw Yale square off against Fairfield. Again, the Bulldogs were pushed to the limits, but their determination and tactical acumen shone through. Yale managed to clinch the match with a 3–2 victory, demonstrating their ability to maintain composure under the pressure of going to the fifth set multiple times.

Yale’s final match of the weekend was against Colgate. The Elis’ performance was marked by their exceptional teamwork. The Bulldogs’ versatility and depth were evident as they battled through a closely contested game, ultimately securing a decisive 3–2 win, closing the Invitational on a high note.

“It is really early in the season; we need to work on our consistency,” Coach Erin Appleman said. “We worked really hard this weekend; [we] did not always play our best but found a way to win. We did have some great moments, especially from the veteran players.”

The Bulldogs’ successful weekend at the Yale Invitational sets a promising tone for the remainder of the season. With a blend of experienced leadership and emerging talent, Yale appears poised for a strong showing in the upcoming Ivy League matches.

As they look ahead, the Bulldogs will carry the momentum from this invitational into their future games, with high expectations and a renewed sense of confidence. The team’s next challenge will be to build on this success and continue their upward trajectory as they prepare for the competitive season ahead.

Next weekend the Bulldogs travel to Penn State University for the Penn State Classic where they will face James Madison University and Penn State University.

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Leak hit career personal records on two consecutive nights last week. Her streak of domination began with 23 kills in the University of Pennsylvania game, helping the Bulldogs quiet the Quakers in a 3–0 win on Friday. The second night, Leak topped the record she set the night before in a 24-kill game against Princeton University, helping the Elis capture the win against the Tigers 3–1 on Saturday. 

When her teammates learned that Leak received this prestigious award, they said that no one was surprised.

“Everyone was incredibly happy for Audrey, but it comes as no shock,” said Laurece Abraham ’27. “Audrey always puts so much effort into our practices and our games. She serves as someone to look up to, especially for the freshman this year, and we are all so incredibly proud of her.”

Audrey ended September on a high. She averaged 6.71 kills per set and had a .482 hitting percentage during these games. 

When the AVCA GameChanger Division I Women’s Player of the Week was awarded on Oct. 3, Leak’s coaches said they knew she would be perfect for the distinction.

“Audrey had an unbelievable weekend,” said head coach Erin Appleman. “She was simply unstoppable. She has worked very hard on learning a new position and working on her transition this season. Audrey has really improved her overall game, while being a great leader on and off the court.”

Leak transitioned from right side hitter to outside hitter this year, with Carly Diehl ’25 as her setter. When Leak spoke with the News, she mentioned that she knew she would need to play at a high level against Penn and Princeton since the Quakers and Tigers are formidable opponents. She was ready to compete and have fun. 

Unlike her teammates, Leak said she was surprised when she received the call informing her that she won the award.

“It truly is such a big honor and I am so proud of my team and my coaches for helping me accomplish it,” she told the News. “It’s a great accomplishment for Yale volleyball, and I am very happy that all the work that my team and I have been putting in everyday in practice was recognized nationally. I am very proud of myself, but as a whole, this was only possible because my passers and setter also had great games, and they were able to give me great opportunities all weekend.”

Yale plays the Harvard Crimson this Friday at home in the John J. Lee Amphitheater. 

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The Bulldogs played their first conference game of the 2023 season after being selected as the preseason favorite to win the Ivy League, with the Princeton Tigers (5–5, 2–0 Ivy) and the Brown Bears not far behind.

The Bulldogs have faced dominant opponents already this season.  

Mila Yarich ’25 emphasized the need for consistency when the momentum of the game is not with the team.

“Our offense honestly remains the same,” Yarich said. “You can’t control the uncontrollables. You have to know when to be aggressive and when to be smart. These are big teams but that doesn’t mean there aren’t many of the same ways to score.”

The Brown Bears came out ready to dominate the Bulldogs, and in the first two sets, it seemed as though they would. The close first set saw the energetic Yale team battling for every point, but they could not rally enough to win, losing 25–23. In the second set, Mariia Sidorova’s 18 kills and Kate Sheire’s 17 kills for Brown seemed to silence the Bulldogs. Despite excellent rallies for the Blue and White, the bleak sets gave way to the opponent, and Brown won the second set 25–16.

After the first two sets, head coach Erin Appleman sat her players down and told them to return to the basics of the game.

“If you want to achieve greatness, you have to be great,” she said. “Simplify it. If your job is to pass, pass; if your job is to set, set. You have to concentrate on each point so you can do what you need to do.”

Taking their coach’s message to heart, the Bulldogs barked back in the third set, winning 25–23. The grit of the offense shined with the 13 kills of Ivy League Rookie of the Week Betsy Goodenow ’27 and 11 from Gigi Barr ’25. Most notably, the depth of the bench helped the team surge back, with substitutions like Laurece Abraham ’27, Arya Jue ’27 and Audrey Leak ’24 bringing energy to the court. 

Jue acted as a key substitution for the Bulldogs, shifting the momentum back to Yale.

“The team always has my back and there is a special bond on the court in which we are all able to trust each other when things get tough,” she said to the News. “The team energy toward the end was electric and just a super exciting environment to both watch and play in.”

In the fourth set, the Bears attempted to claw back but were held back by the Bulldogs’ defense. Barr and Goodenow fought the hits of Sidorova and Sheire, with a combined total of 11 blocks. Not far behind was Yarich, with 4 blocks alongside her 13 kills. Abraham had 4 key kills in the fourth set and the Blue and White took the next set 25–23.

Finally, in the fifth set, Brown’s hopes of ending the Bulldogs’ home winning streak faded with Goodenow’s 13th kill, ending the match with a set win 18–16. Thirteen players contributed to Yale’s win in their first five-match game of the season.

“I was most impressed by the team’s fight,” Appleman said to the News. “Plus, the depth of our substitutions gave us not just good points but more energy; they were able to lift us up. Resiliency is a part of our team culture.”

Appleman added that a “tough preseason” has helped the team succeed during the regular season.

She also told the News that she encourages fans to attend the high-intensity matches.

“We shared the title with Princeton last year, but we don’t plan to share again,” she said. “This is a big game you’ll want to watch!”

The Bulldogs host the Penn Quakers (2–10, 0–2 Ivy) and the Princeton Tigers at home this next weekend at the Payne White Gymnasium’s John J. Lee Amphitheatre.

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After excelling at the Yale Invitational the weekend prior, the Bulldogs sought to extend their four-game win streak in preparation for the start of conference play next weekend. 

Mila Yarich ’25 has been a key player for the Bulldogs this year. She told the News that the team felt elated to play against big competition.

“Chicago was a super exciting environment,” she said. “Going in, we knew we were playing challenging teams and that this was an opportunity for growth, as well as an opportunity to prepare us for conference play.”

At the invitational, Yale faced the Northwestern Wildcats, their first Big 10 opponent since 2019. Gigi Barr ’25 returned to her home state after coming off a 13-kill game against the University of Connecticut (5–7, 0–0 Big East). The Wildcats went to work against the Bulldogs, posting a 3–0 victory, with set wins of 25–22, 25–19 and 25–13. Julia Sangiacomo and Leilani Dodson each posted 11 kills for Northwestern. Despite the eight kills of both Barr and Betsy Goodenow ’27, the typically-powerful offense of the Bulldogs hushed against the hiss of the Cats.

Yarich said the team learned a lot from their battle against Northwestern.

“The mindset going into the match was that this is such an incredible opportunity to play against a Big 10 team like Northwestern,” she said. “Though not the outcome we wanted, it was a great opportunity to grow. There were so many amazing plays and rallies during the match that showed our grit and resilience as a team.”

The Bulldogs have shown their adaptability to adversity throughout the season, often battling back after losses to major opponents.

Team captain Maile Somera ’24 said that the team prospers when they fall back on their hard work over the course of the year.

“No matter the challenge, we will approach it together,” Somera said to the News. “We rely on the preparation and confidence we have built through the season.”

The next day, Yale faced off against Loyola Chicago, the host of the tournament. The first set saw the decisive Bulldogs come out on top, winning 25–22. The Ramblers fought back in the next set, winning 29–27 and evening the match. 

Soon after, Yale quieted their opponent with dominant wins of the next two sets, 25–21 and 25–17, respectively. Bree Borum snagged a double-double against the Blue and White, but failed to stop the swings of Barr and Isabella Mendoza ’26, who each had 10 kills in the match. Most notably, Carly Diehl ’25 narrowly missed a triple-double and Goodenow reached her first double-double, notching a season-high 17 kills. Goodenow also hit .421 in the match with 10 digs, securing her place as Ivy League Rookie of the Week.

Somera told the News about the team’s enthusiasm in beginning conference play, emphasizing the importance of challenging one another.

“We’re very excited to start conference play and test ourselves after a challenging, competitive preseason,” she said to the News. “My leadership role does not change once we start Ivy play. My goal is always to instill confidence and encourage our team to compete in the face of adversity.”

Yarich echoed Somera’s sentiment, perfectly summing up the goals of the team.

“We have prepared for the big moments as well as the small ones and I’m excited to show who we are as Yale Volleyball. And, of course, chasing after another conference title,” she said.

The Bulldogs take on the Brown University Bears (9–1, 0–0 Ivy) to start Ivy League play this Friday, Sept. 22. They will play at home at the John J. Lee Amphitheater inside Payne Whitney Gymnasium at 7 p.m.

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Coming off their inaugural tournament at West Point the previous weekend, with losses to High Point (6–3, 0–0 Big South) and Liberty University (7–2, 0–0 ASUN), the Bulldogs looked to improve their record with games against Sacred Heart (1–7, 0–0 NEC), the University of Rhode Island (1–9, 0–0 A10) and the University of Connecticut (4–5, 0–0 Big East).

Head Coach Erin Appleman told the News the team returned for their home opener after hard weeks of practice.

“They’ve been working really hard in practice for about two weeks, so I think that’s been really good — the practices have been really intense and they’re all getting better, which is what you hope for as a coach,” she said.

Yale began their homestand against Sacred Heart, the Northeastern Conference preseason favorite, with a timid win during the first set of 25–20. The Pioneers battled back against the Bulldogs to win a close second set 27–25, but Yale quickly took care of business in the next two sets, 25–17 and 26–24. Isabella Mendoza ’26 landed 12 kills, just behind the season-high 14 kills of Betsy Goodenow ’27. Halle Sherlock ’26 came up with two digs in the fourth set to lead the team to victory. 

The Bulldogs made quick work of Rhode Island, winning their first match on Saturday 3–0. The Rams found their swings halted by Gigi Barr’s ’25 six blocks. Meanwhile, the University of Rhode Island team’s defensive efforts did not faze Goodenow, who again led the team with 10 kills. This marked her third game with at least 10 kills, a fiery start for the first year.  

In both matches against Sacred Heart and Rhode Island, the Yale volleyball team posted hitting averages above .300.  

Mendoza said the key to hitting well is confidence and preparation; she also noted the importance of a short-term memory.

“The team does a great job of resetting and taking it one point at a time,” she said. “Teams going on runs are a part of the game, but we focus on controlling what we can on our side of the net.”

The weekend ended with the feature match against the University of Connecticut as Yale looked to even their all-time record at 2–2. The match began with a tense win for UConn, 25–20. Mya Ayro led the Huskies with 16 kills. However, the Bulldogs rallied back shortly, taking the second game 25–23.  In an all-Connecticut battle, emotions ran high and fans held their breath. 

Finally, with the 13 kills from Barr, the Blue and White put an end to the Huskies, taking sets three and four 25–23 and 25–19, respectively.  Diehl reached her 2,000th assist milestone to help keep Handsome Dan the supreme Connecticut dog.

The homestand was a chance to show the dominance of the Bulldogs’ roster, which does not end with just the players on the court. In all three games, Head Coach Erin Appleman substituted new players, each one contributing just as much to the game as the player before her.

The Rhode Island game saw first year Jaidynn Perkins-Martin ’27 get her first career rally.

“Stepping into the jersey for the first time was a surreal experience, especially for the first home game,” Perkins-Martin said. “Seeing the lights dim is a crazy experience and a dream come true to finally be able to put the jersey on.”

She said she has also seen herself improve through the mentorship of the other players, the coaching staff and the team’s captain, Maile Somera ’24.

Somera has been instrumental in the team’s success, posting 27 digs and nine assists this season alone.

“Maile has done a great job leading the team and she does a great job keeping everyone motivated. She’s a great leader on and off the court,” Perkins-Martin said to the News. “Playing with such amazing players from all over the country has definitely helped me get better and grow as a player. Our amazing coaching staff has also helped with all the feedback they give at practices.”

The Bulldogs look to extend their four-game win streak in Chicago next weekend, facing the Northwestern Wildcats (5–3, 0–0 B10) and the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (2–6, 0–0 A10).

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