Looking to break a run of inconsistent play, the NYU women’s volleyball team came out on top in both of their matches during a double-header hosted by Baruch College. Their second win was arguably their best of the season as they fought to get a grind-it-out win, which they hope will garner some momentum for their upcoming slate of league games.

The Violets (9-7), behind sophomore Rayne Ellis’ dominant performance, had no problem in taking down Baruch, the hosts, in their first game. Ellis hit for .615 and posted match bests in kills (10), total blocks (4) and points (12.0). After cruising through the opening set, NYU never looked back and quickly won the next two capping off 3-0 victory.

The team’s second match was against Haverford College (9-5). It was a game that really put the team’s mental strength to the test. NYU found themselves in an 0-2 hole after a tough go in the second set of the match, giving up a 24-21 lead due to a late run by the Fords. Haverford College took the set’s final five points and were in perfect position to sweep NYU. Although the task seemed daunting, the Violets left those last two sets in the past and came storming back, winning the last three sets.

“Sometimes we play teams that just overpower us, and we don’t adjust,” Ellis said. “But today we showed what we we are made of. Everyone individually had their own great game, and that’s why we won. The win that we achieved today was rare; we actually earned it.”

Senior outside hitter Nicole Frias, the team’s captain, finished with a team-high 14.5 points as well as 12 kills and three total blocks in the team’s comeback win over Haverford. Fellow sophomore outside hitter Alexis Jackson also put on a good performance after she notched 13 kills, three digs, and a block (13.5 points). After pitching in 9 kills, freshman outside hitter Annie Singh touched on how this game could build momentum for the Violets, who are about to go into their first stretch of conference play.

“Our team played really well and we pulled out a tough victory,” Singh said. “It was a really close game against Haverford and we showed a lot of improvement. I think it was a good game to go into conference play strongly.”

NYU will play again next weekend when they host 2015’s first University Athletic Association Round Robin. The Violets will start things off on Saturday, Oct. 3, when they face off against American Volleyball Coaches’ Association’s third-ranked Washington University-St. Louis at 2 p.m., followed by No. 11 University of Chicago at 4 p.m. They close the weekend off at 10 a.m. on Sunday against the University
of Rochester.

A version of this article appeared in the Sept. 28 print edition. Email Brandon Herrera at [email protected].