STORRS, Conn. (Sept. 14, 2018) – Rutgers volleyball dropped a tight four-set match to UConn in the Friday nightcap of the Dog Pound Challenge in the Gampel Pavilion.
 
THE LINE
UConn (8-4) 3, Rutgers (5-7) 0 – 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20
 
KNIGHT NOTES

• Junior libero Karysa Swackenberg notched her third career 20-dig game.
• Sophomore right side Beka Kojadinovic had her second double-double of the day – and fourth of her career – with 10 kills and 14 digs.
• Rutgers has outblocked opponents in 11 of 12 matches this season, outdoing the Huskies at the net 14.5-7 on Friday night. The Scarlet Knights entered the weekend ranked fourth in the nation in blocks per set at 3.09.
• Freshman setter Inna Balyko bounced a career-high five kills with no errors on seven swings.

STANDOUT STATS

• Freshman outside hitter Tali Marmen reached double-digit kills for the first time with 10.
• Junior middle Jasmine Stackhouse paced the blocking effort with seven assists.
• Senior outside hitter Sahbria McLetchie totaled 10 kills to go with five blocks.

THE MOMENTS

• Set 1 | Rutgers fell behind the hosts early, but mounted a comeback attempt with 4-0 and 3-0 runs to get within two at 18-16, highlighted by Balyko's dump kill and an excuse-me service ace from McLetchie off the tape. Another rally saw McLetchie and Marmen bury kills and Stackhouse's fifth block of the set for the 23-23 tie before the Huskies closed it out 25-23.
• Set 2 | McLetchie heated up late with kills to tie the set at 22 and 23-all before UConn again pulled away with the final two points of the stanza.
• Set 3 | Miljevic was in on all three blocks during a 6-0 spurt early in the set. Rutgers built a 21-12 advantage before UConn rallied with seven straight points in a 10-2 run as the Scarlet Knight lead shrank to 23-22. McLetchie and Kojadinovic clinched the set win via kills.
• Set 4 | Kojadinovic bookended a 3-0 rally with a block assist and a kill to bring Rutgers within a point, 17-16. The Huskies answered with a 5-1 stint to seal Rutgers' fate.

UP NEXT
The Scarlet Knights face Holy Cross at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 to close out the Dog Pound Challenge. Big Ten play begins next week with trips to Maryland on Wednesday, Sept. 19 (7 p.m.) and Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 22 (2 p.m.).
 
 
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