Volleyball Falls to Bridgeport in Fives Sets in CACC Championship 

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Thomas Jefferson University volleyball team (19-11) were up 2-1 heading into the fourth set, but a strong back and forth battle went in favor of the Purple Knights as the Rams would fall to the University of Bridgeport (26-7) in the CACC Championship Finals in Sunday afternoon action.

WHAT HAPPENED 
Bridgeport would get out ahead in the first set 14-8 which included a 6-1 run that gave the Purple Knights the advantage while the Rams had seven errors in that stretch. Jefferson would bounce back, beginning to cut in the Bridgeport lead as they got within one point at 16-15 in the first set with Jess Molen and Sam Mann kills. After a Purple Knights point, the Rams would take the lead and hold that through the end of the first set with a 25-21 victory. 

The second set would be even to begin, but Bridgeport would go on a 9-2 run to set themselves with a 17-9 lead. The Rams would once more tie it up as they earned the next eight points off of three Molen kills, which added to her 26 kills in the game which is a season-high, while Aja Smith added one of her own. Both teams would answer and have it even at 20-20, but the Purple Knights took three in a row to be up 23-20. After two points for the Rams, Bridgeport earned a kill from Lucia Tomiello to get themselves in match point. Kalen Jordan had a kill to get within one for Jefferson, but Tomiello added another kill that would hand Bridgeport the second set 25-23 and even the series at 1-1. 

The sets would live up to the championship atmosphere as another beginning close set for the number one seeds in each division would happen in the third set as the game would be back and forth to a 9-9 tie. Each team would have their own runs to earn the lead as Jefferson would have a 5-0 run that put them ahead 14-9. Bridgeport would respond with seven straight points and a 16-14 advantage. Jefferson would even it at 16-16, with both teams responding once again and trading the lead before the Purple Knights would be up 22-21. Molen would have three kills while Emily McKenna would earn one as well, all assisted by Caroline Bond who would have a season-high 56 assists in the match. The Rams would take three of the last four points in the set to win 25-23 and be up 2-1 heading into the fourth.  

Jefferson would get the early edge as they'd be up 9-7 in the fourth set from kills by Molen, Smith, and Mann. Bridgeport would retake the lead as they'd be up 15-11 before the Rams would respond and be up again 18-17. The Purple Knights went on a 7-2 run to have match point at 24-20. After three kills from the Rams to keep the set going, Hailey Jessen would earn a kill and give Bridgeport the fourth set 25-23, forcing a fifth set in the CACC Championship for the first for the first time in 10 years. 

The Purple Knights would get ahead 6-3 in the fifth set, but the Rams would respond once more as Jordan had a kill and a block with McKenna to get Jefferson up 9-7. Bridgeport would take four of the next five points to be ahead at 11-10 from Grace Pressword, Tomiello, and Jessen. McKenna would get one more kill and even it at 11-11, but the Purple Knights would complete the set with four in a row and secure the CACC Championship with a 15-11 victory and the 3-2 match win. Jess Molen, Sam Mann, and Caroline Bond were all named to the CACC All-Tournament Team after the contest.

QUICK HITS 
Jess Molen: 26 kills, 11 digs, 2 service aces 
Aja Smith: 12 kills, 4 digs, 2 blocks 
Sam Mann: 10 kills, 5 blocks 
Caroline Bond: 56 assists, 14 digs, 2 service aces 
Cameron Johnson: 22 digs, 6 assists 

CACC All-Tournament Team
Elly Collins – Wilmington
Erika Dubosky – Chestnut Hill
Rachel Pace – Chestnut Hill
Jess Molen – Jefferson
Caroline Bond – Jefferson
Sam Mann - Jefferson
Hailey Jessen - Bridgeport
Lucia Tomiello - Bridgeport
Datari Mathis - Bridgeport
Jaden Drollinger – Bridgeport
Grace Presswood - Bridgeport
MVP - Hailey Jessen (Bridgeport)

UP NEXT 
Jefferson will see if they get an at-large bid on Monday, November 20 at 7:30 as the NCAA will have the women's volleyball selection show on ncaa.com.