PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island. – Johnson and Wales (21-11,13-2) defeated Saint Joseph's College (15-17,10-5), (25-10, 26-24, 29-27, 25-13) Thursday night in a semifinal match of the 2023 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Volleyball Tournament.

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS:

With the victory, Johnson and Wales advances to the championship match of the tournament Saturday, Nov. 16.

For Saint Joseph's, the loss signals the end of the 2024 season and the college volleyball careers of the Monks' four seniors: Maggie Sylvester (Barrington, NH), Sarah Joe (Londonderry, NH), Hanna Webster (Alvin, TX),  and Allison McMullen (Jacksonville, FL).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

In the first set, JWU opened a 6-1 lead before a kill by Greta Mackintosh and two aces from Jessica Christman put the Monks within two points. The Pride responded with an 19-6 scoring run, led by Finleigh Benkwitt with two service aces and four kills and Bailey Koopman with three kills . JWU would clinch the first set on a Koopman kill.

Thanks to consecutive kills by Victoria Briones and Greta Mackintosh Saint Joseph's College was able to catch back up to the Wildcats to tie it up at 23-23 after opening the second set with a 6-1 lead. The Monks extended the second set 25-24 after back to back kills from Briones and Sylvester and closed out the set on an error from Finleigh Benkwitt. 

The Monks battled in the third set but were unable to maintain a big enough lead to keep the Chargers at bay. Hanna Webster, Larisa Comolli, and Maggie Sylvester all had big kills at the end of the set to give the Monks a chance. The Chargers closed out the third set with a Finleigh Benkwitt ace 29-27. 

Saint Joseph's College did not give up and put together scoring opportunities late into the fourth set with a kill from Hanna Webster and Larisa Comolli as well as an ace from Jessica Christman. Peyton Oliver clinched the set and the match for the Chargers with her 18th and final kill of the night.

TEAM STATS:

JWU held the lead in kills (51-31), hitting percentage (.209/.031), assists (49-27) digs (65-52), blocks (10-8), and service aces (13-7).

LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:

• Junior Victoria Briones (El Paso, Texas) notched 6 kills, one ace, 11 digs and two blocks
• Senior Sylvester (Barrington, N.H.) netted seven kills 
• Greta Mackintosh (Plymouth, MA) contributed seven kills and 2.5 blocks
• First year Riley Greenley tallied 16 assists and 11 digs
• Tamya Johnson (Boston, MA) added seven assists
• Sophomore Jessica Christman (Virginia Beach, VA) delivered three aces 
• Sophomore Larissa Comolli (Nashua, N.H.) contributed three aces
• Regan Noonan (Standish, ME) added a block
• Sabrina Arcilla (Riverale, NJ) picked up 7 digs

LEADERS – JWU:

• Peyton Oliver tallied 18 kills and 14 dogs
• Finleigh Benkwitt netted 10 kills, four aces, 2.5 blocks
• Nevaeh Arnold added 35 assists, four aces
• Sierra Nausieda contributed 15 digs