BUFFALO, N.Y. — Saints Sweep ECC Opener in Convincing Fashion at Home
The D'Youville women's volleyball team (4-7, 1-0 ECC) opened East Coast Conference play with a statement victory on Saturday afternoon, sweeping Queens College (6-8, 0-1 ECC) in straight sets inside Saints Center Gym. With set scores of 25-15, 25-14, and 25-23, the Saints put together one of their most complete performances of the season, fueled by a .329 hitting percentage, twelve service aces, and a balanced team effort on both sides of the ball.
The afternoon began with a special moment as D'Youville honored its 2024 ECC Championship team in a pregame ring ceremony and reunion. The celebration energized both the crowd and the current Saints roster, creating a charged atmosphere that carried into the first serve.
From the very beginning of the opening set, D'Youville seized control. The Saints jumped out to a 4-0 lead, capitalizing on early Queens miscues before asserting themselves offensively. Setter Alina Bertens Deckart kept the attack flowing smoothly, setting up timely kills for Madeline O'Brien, Giselle Ramirez, and Cameron Ulinski. Lauren Scully's ace extended the margin to 18-11, and despite a couple of service errors down the stretch, the Saints closed strong with a thunderous kill from Maddie Boglev to secure the set 25-15.
The second set was even more dominant. Bertens Deckart started things off with back-to-back aces, immediately energizing the Saints and their home crowd. Ulinski continued to power the offense with several kills, including the decisive point that ended the set at 25-14. The Knights struggled to find rhythm, as D'Youville's defense consistently disrupted their attack. A seven-point closing run, highlighted by an ace from Angelyn Jaramillo, showcased the Saints' ability to sustain pressure and finish off an opponent without giving momentum back.
The third set brought the most resistance from Queens, but the Saints proved resilient in tight moments. Ramirez sparked the team with three service aces in the frame, including two straight that shifted momentum during a back-and-forth stretch. Defensively, Boglev and Gabrielle Dials came up huge with a block against the Knights' top hitter, denying a potential rally and pushing D'Youville to match point. Once again, it was Ulinski who delivered in the clutch, hammering home the final kill off a perfectly placed set from Bertens Deckart to close the 25-23 win and complete the sweep.
In a match where nearly every Saint made an impact, D'Youville showcased the depth, poise, and energy that will be crucial as ECC play unfolds. With Ulinski's steady scoring, Bertens Deckart's leadership as a distributor, and key contributions from Ramirez, Boglev, and others, the Saints displayed the type of all-around performance that signals they are ready to climb in conference standings.
The victory not only improves D'Youville's overall record to 4-7 but also gives the team a confident 1-0 start in ECC competition. The Saints will look to build on this momentum quickly, as they return to the court tomorrow morning for another conference showdown. D'Youville hosts Molloy at 11:00 a.m. Sunday inside Saints Center Gym, with a chance to secure back-to-back ECC wins to close out the weekend homestand.
