Oct. 1, 2007

Box Score

Staten Island, NY - Playing against the three-time defending Northeast Conference (NEC) champion Long Island Blackbirds the Wagner Seahawks turned in arguably their top performance of the year despite losing by a 3-0 count. The Green & White fell by scores of 30-20, 30-22 and 30-16 to move to 2-8, 0-1 NEC while the preseason NEC favorites improve to 9-9, 1-0 NEC.

The Seahawks were paced by the freshmen duo of Ashley Pepper (Washington Court House, OH / Washington Senior) and Erin Henneberger (Livonia, MI / Ladywood). Pepper had a team-best nine kills, on a career-high .692 hitting, with three aces and three blocks while Henneberger recorded eight kills, on .190 hitting.

Wagner came out strong in the first game, matching the potent Blackbirds attack and was tied at 17-17. LIU then ripped off a 13-3 run, capped by three Martina Wagner aces to end the game.

The Seahawks showed no ill effects of LIU's late game one rally, storming out in front 19-13, highlighted by a 6-0 run to give the Green & White their largest lead of the match. With Wagner up 22-18, LIU showed why they are regarded as one of the top teams in the East, putting together a game-changing 12-0 run to win going away 30-22. The Blackbirds scored the first three points of game three, winning easily 30-16 for the match-clinching win.

LIU outhit Wagner .388-.086, and won the battle of the blocks (12-3) and aces (15-6).

Sophomore Alex Klein (Cresent Springs, KY / Notre Dame Academy) had eight kills and eight digs while classmate Gabi Hilk (Wilmington, DE / Alexis I. DuPont) recorded 27 assists, joining Pepper and Henneberger as the top offensive performers for the Seahawks. Freshman Jennifer Lechman (Effingham, IL / Effingham) led the way on defense with 10 digs.

Shelby Heggie's 13 kills, on .450 hitting, and Martina Wagner's 11 kills, on identical .450 hitting, with four aces paced Long Island

The Seahawks return to action tomorrow night when they host Saint Peter's in a non-league tussle at 7 pm in the Spiro Sports Center.