Quinnipiac volleyball has two games left in their regular season, but you’d think this group would never see each other again if you saw their senior day celebration today. Friends were held tight and tears were shed as Quinnipiac celebrated their two seniors, middle blocker Alexandra Tennon and libero Fa’avae Kimsel Moe along with graduate student opposite hitter Elena Giacomini.
All three of these players had an important impact on the game today. Quinnipiac swept Marist in straight sets for their last regular season game at Burt Kahn, and although the sets were close, the mentality got in and get out for the Bobcats.
“I think dispatching teams right now as quick as possible is always in our best interest, especially when it gets closer to the end,” said head coach Kyle Robinson. “Especially when the league is so tight, and for us to be able to keep our position.”
The game started solidly in Quinnipiac’s favor, with them jumping out to a 15-10 lead halfway into the set. The Bobcats play at the service line shined in the first set in particular, posting two aces; one of them from Kimsel Moe.
The rest of the first set went pretty back and forth, but the Bobcats maintained their lead for the duration. They closed it out on a kill from junior outside hitter Yagmur Gunes, who tallied a game-high 18 kills.
The second set was much closer, and the leads looked a lot like a roller coaster. Quinnipiac shot out to a 5-0 start, then went down 11-7. They got their lead back up to 19-14, but Marist tied things up at 22. Both offenses were pretty sloppy under the pressure, but it was again Yagmur Gunes who stepped up for the Bobcats when it mattered. She had a fantastic kill in the back corner to put Quinnipiac up 25-24, and then sophomore outside hitter Leilani-kai Giusta had a great serve that forced a Marist attack error to clinch the set. Giusta’s service has improved pretty dramatically throughout this season, which is no accident.
“Hey, I know we’re one of the tops in the country in D1,” said Robinson. “Just yesterday Damla said, ‘Oh yeah, we’re 17th.’ And I go, Wow. I didn’t know we’re that up there. But I watch enough matches of everyone in the country to know they’re not serving like us.”
The Bobcats played their most dominant in the third set, and by then they’d already found their rhythm. Marist led 10-9 at one point in this set, but that’s the last lead they’d get for the match.
The Bobcats played very cohesively and for the last couple of points Chloe Ka’ahanui got in the game to close it out. Robinson wanted to see Giusta, Kimsel Moe, and Ka’ahanui all on the court together for what may be the last time, as an homage to the Hawaiians that made up Quinnipiac volleyball’s golden generation.
The bond that this whole team shares is nothing less than family. It’s a word that’s thrown around a lot in regards to Quinnipiac volleyball, but only because it’s true. The Tennon and Kimsel parents were both in attendance for senior day, and they had nothing but good things to say about the organization. Their daughters have traveled hundreds, even thousands of miles to attend Quinnipiac, and they sleep easier at night knowing their children are safe.
“He’s like a brother,” said Samantha Tennon of Robinson. “We have a lot of things in common, and we joke about the same things, but it’s really like having another member of the family.”
The way Robinson is able to earn the trust of his players and their parents is simple.
“We treat them like gold and we fulfill the promises that I give them,” said Robinson. We’re going to prepare them for the next step, and we’re going to treat them with care and respect. And as long as they are willing, they’re going to learn a lot and leave here better than when they dropped them off.”
