Seton Hall women's volleyball closed their season on a bittersweet note, falling 3-0 to Butler on Senior Day, Nov. 23 at Walsh Gymnasium. The Pirates (14-17, 7-11 Big East) celebrated the end of nine seniors' careers but could not capitalize on the emotional momentum against a strong Bulldogs squad.
The match also marked the second season meeting between the teams, with Butler sweeping the Pirates in three straight sets. The Bulldogs claimed a 3-1 victory in their home matchup on Oct. 18.
Seton Hall fought hard in the opening set, battling multiple lead changes. Butler's outside hitters, led by Alaleh Tolliver and Elise Ward with 12 kills each, proved difficult to contain, as the Bulldogs edged the Pirates, 27-25, in a nail-biting first frame.
In the second set, the Pirates showed resilience. Senior Laila Wallace stood out with six kills on 14 attempts, while setter Madison Klungel dished out 28 assists. Despite the effort, the Pirates fell short, dropping the set 25-22.
The third set was another closely contested battle. Perri Lucas led the Pirates with nine kills and a .240 hitting percentage, and senior Jenna Walsh added seven kills and seven digs. However, critical setting errors down the stretch allowed Butler to clinch the match with another 25-22 victory.
The aforementioned Pirates’ seniors who have been instrumental to the program's growth are Reagan Merk, Faith Lamacchia, Laila Wallace, Madison Klungel, Anna Holland, Perri Lucas, Jenna Walsh, Hanna Tulli, and Berra Tok.
Each senior was recognized in a well-organized pregame ceremony, as coaches and teammates highlighted their contributions both on and off the court. Additionally, "senior spotlights" were posted on the team's social media throughout the season.
Although the Pirates' season is over, the team showed fight and flashes of talent throughout the year. With young talent waiting for their opportunity and a strong example shown by their senior class, Seton Hall will aim to build on the 2024 season and prepare for the road ahead.
Jaden Highsmith is a writer for The Setonian’s Sports section. He can be reached at jaden.highsmith@student.shu.edu.
