It took seven tries, but Stony Brook finally secured a victory on Saturday against Quinnipiac for its first win of the season, 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-20). The Seawolves (1-6) came back to sweep their opponents just hours after losing to Rhode Island.

Senior Ashley Headen and junior Alicia Nelson combined for 36 kills to overpower Quinnipiac in the final game of the Yale Invitational, ending the trip on a high note. Senior Jeanette Gibbs led the Seawolves with 16 digs while junior setter Kelsey Sullivan added 21 assists. Freshman Masa Balandzic contributed 5 aces.

The Seawolves’  inconsistency was a big factor in losing six consecutive games. They often had fast starts only to eventually lose the game. However, the Seawolves kept the momentum after jumping off to a good start against Quinnipiac.

In the first set, Stony Brook led 16-6, but Quinnipiac closed the gap to two late in the set. This seemed like the same story again for Stony Brook, but the team maintained composure to close out the first set with five straight points to go up 1-0 in the game. Balandzic served three aces during the five-point span.

In set two, Stony Brook grabbed a 17-11 lead, but Quinnipiac took a one-point lead after a seven-point run. However, the Seawolves bounced right back with the combination of strong play from freshman Kaitlin Costello and Quinnipiac’s unforced errors. They took the set for a 2-0 lead.

Stony Brook opened the third set with a 6-1 run, only to see that lead dwindle down to one, 16-15. But the Seawolves went on another 8-1 run to eventually close out the set and win the game, 3-0.

The Seawolves have to feel as if the monkey is off their back in winning their first game of the season. Now they can look ahead and concentrate on improving their record as conference play draws nearer.

Next up for the Seawolves will be a game in the Bronx, where they face Rider in the Fordham Invitational Sept. 10. This will be the beginning of four games in the span of two days.