Sept. 7, 2007

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NEW HAVEN, Conn.--If the season opener is any indication, the Yale volleyball team is going to have quite a year. After a tight first game, the Bulldogs (1-0) dominated games two and three to post a 30-28, 30-12, 30-12 victory over Rhode Island (4-3) in each team's first match of the Yale Invitational Friday night at the John J. Lee Amphitheater.

The tight game one featured nine ties and six lead changes. With the Bulldogs leading 16-14, Taylor Morgan made an incredible dig on what looked like a certain Rhode Island kill, and Yale ended the rally when Ally Mendenhall and Alexis Crusey stuffed Amy Mellard's attempt. Yale eventually built a 24-19 lead, but Rhode Island stormed out of a timeout with a 9-2 run to take a 28-26 advantage. The Bulldogs rallied for the final four points of the game to win, 30-28.

The Bulldogs were never challenged in games two and three. Leading 6-5, Yale went on an 11-2 spurt to put game two out of reach. Rhode Island cut the lead to 27-10, but consecutive Crusey service aces set up the easy 30-12 win. The Rams hit -.100 (9 kills, 13 errors, 40 attacks) in the game.

It was more of the same in game three, as the Bulldogs broke it open with a 7-0 run that turned a 16-10 lead into a 23-10 advantage. Kelly Ozurovich had three aces during the rally. Yale scored 14 of the final 16 points to seal the match with a 30-12 win in game three.

"I was very pleased with our effort tonight, especially since it was our first time out," head coach Erin Appleman said. "Our serving was exceptional. I was also very happy with crowd; they were awesome."

Yale hit .235 (41-13-119) in the match, including an impressive .404 (26-3-57) over the final two games and .500 (17-2-30) in game three. The Bulldogs out-dug the Rams 68-58, and had 12 aces compared to Rhode Island's two.

Julia Mailander led the way for the Bulldogs with her first career double-double, posting career-highs with 13 kills and 11 digs. Courtney Hall returned from a shoulder injury that kept her sidelined for most of 2006 with 14 digs and a career-high four aces. Crusey had nine kills, 16 digs and three aces. Appearing in her first collegiate match, Morgan tallied 14 digs, including 10 in the opening game, when Yale had 37 as a team. Mendenhall dished out 34 assists to go along with seven digs.

Rhode Island hit just .067 (34-25-135) for the match, including .014 (19-18-74) combined in games two and three. Kayla Newberg led the Rams with 10 kills, while Peggy Doino had 14 digs. Kaira Kachadurian had 23 assists for Rhode Island.

In the day's first match, Maine defeated Sacred Heart 3-1. Yale faces both teams on Saturday on the final day of the tournament. The Bulldogs and Pioneers tangle at 10 a.m., while Yale and Maine will conclude the event at 7 p.m. Free video of each match will be available as part of the Yale All-Access package, with WYBC providing commentary of the Yale-Maine contest.

Report filed by Joe Clifford, Yale Sports Publicity