Junior setter Alexa Toth looks to set up a teammate during Friday night’s loss to San Jose State. (Photo courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics)

Connector Editor

The UMass Lowell volleyball team fell to the San Jose State Spartans 3-0 in their home opener and first match of the UMass Lowell Invitational Friday night at Costello Athletic Center. The set scores were 18-25, 18-25 and 10-25.

The team falls to 0-9 on the season with the loss.

The River Hawks were able to go on short runs of three or four points at a time throughout the game, but frequent miscues derailed their momentum. The team kept the game close in the first two sets, but deficits as large as 13 points proved too large to overcome for the young team.

“…San Jose started picking up their game and started pushing back a little bit,” said Head Coach Resa Provanzano, “and our young team has not yet really been able to take that push and bounce back from it.”

While the team faltered overall due to a lack of consistency, Provanzano noted that different players shined at various points throughout the game. Freshman outside hitter Haley Shimon lead the team in kills with six, and junior middle blocker Elima Ahzi provided key defensive stops at times to slow the Spartans’ attack.

Freshman middle blocker Lade Adeniyi prepares to defend against San Jose State’s attack Friday night. (Photo by George DeLuca/Connector)

Heading into the team’s next game, however, Provanzano said the team will have to work on their resiliency and playing each set on a point-by-point basis.

“Our number one priority is just playing tough every single point and having the mentality of not dwelling on what just happened but focusing on our plan,” Provanzano said.

The River Hawks take the court Saturday afternoon to face the Holy Cross Crusaders and the Quinnipiac Bobcats at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively. Both games will take place at Costello Athletic Center as part of the second day of the UMass Lowell Invitational.