Bridgeport, Conn. - In a hard fought, four-set battle, the Adelphi University volleyball program came out on the victorious end of a regional contest featuring the University of Bridgeport Wednesday evening. 

The Panthers (3-6) used a team hitting percentage of .234, helped with a fourth set percentage of .412 to defeat the Purple Knights (1-7) on their home court. Four different Adelphi players reached the double-figure mark in kills, with McKenna Clawson and Cara McKenzie leading the way with 14 apiece. Victoria Cast and Leilani Vazquez were responsible for 12 and 10, respectively, joining forces to account for 19 digs. Solely on defense Katarina Warburton led the team with 17 digs while Katie Barry crushed her previous career-high assist number from last weekend, ending with 48 in the win.

The Brown and Gold found themselves trailing midway through the opening set, however an 8-1 run allowed the Panthers to take their first lead of the contest at 25-24. The teams traded points, but contributions from Barry in the form of a kill and block with Madison Canestrari gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage in the game. Tables quickly turned and the hosts fell behind 11-5, with the help of two service aces from Stephanie Millilo and a kill from Barry. The home team regained the advantage with five-point run, but the Panthers closed out the set earning seven of the last 11 points. 

Six straight points started the third set off for Adelphi, but not for long as Bridgeport stormed back with a 7-2 run that brought them within one of the visitors. Both teams battled to push ahead of the other through the remainder of the set, but it came down to who could string together enough points to close the game. Prior to 25-all the Knights took a timeout to regroup, which ultimately helped them break the stalemate and record the last three points to take a 30-28 win to have a hand in match. 

Adelphi, unsatisfied, came out with the lead but again fell behind in the fourth when UB's Hunter Barker placed a kill sparking a four-point run to earn the upper hand. Kills from three of Adelphi's four double-digit scorers and a service ace from Barry quickly changed the tone setting up the visitors to close out the contest. The Purple Knights did not go down without a fight though, tying the final set at 18 and 20, before Cast, Clawson and a double block including Canestrari secured the 25-21 set four victory. 

The squad returns to the court on Saturday, September 16 for tri-match action in Albany, N.Y. featuring the College of Saint Rose and Daemen College. The contest against the Golden Knights will open up Northeast-10 Conference play for the Panthers. 

---

About Adelphi Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past eight seasons, has collected 23 regular season conference titles, 25 tournament championships, 33 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.

For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.