BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The LIU women's volleyball opened up NEC conference play with a very impressive comeback.
 
On Friday night in front of a packed Steinberg Wellness Center the Sharks brought home the victory over Central Connecticut State in five sets (23-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-14, 15-7).
 
LIU was in trouble after Central Connecticut State took the first two sets and then led 12-5 in the third. After Olivia Lucia recorded a kill, a switch was flipped in the Sharks. They went on an 3-1 run to tie the set and battled the rest of the way to win it.
 
From there, it was all Sharks. They dominated every facet of the game and took the next two sets essentially without much pushback from the opposition. Amaris Smith recorded her second match-winning kill of the season and LIU took home the victory to start off conference play 1-0.
 
"It was a great win. We didn't come out playing very solid volleyball and it was great to see their reaction when their backs was were against the wall," said head coach Amable Martinez. "Once we got going in the second set, that opened up everything else."
 
Camelia Melendez led the Sharks in kills with 20 while also adding 16 digs, three assists, and a service ace. Smith was second in kills with 19.
 
Alasha Colon had another stellar game defensively coming off of her NEC Player of the Week. She tallied 37 digs, just four shy of her own LIU record.
 
The Sharks recorded seven aces with the match which came from Melendez, Selina Koç, Tiana Brasby, Colon and Jordan MacDonald.
 
Selina Koç led the team with 44 assists while recording a block as well.
 
Celine Mukura provided energy off the bench late in the match and scored five kills on just ten attempts.
 
Olivia Lucia and Rumur Rouille once again made their presence known in front of the net. Lucia led the Sharks with six blocks while Rouille added to her NEC-leading 46 with five more and recorded 10 kills.
 
"We showed what we're capable of tonight in that thriller," said Rouille. "We had a really tough non-conference schedule and that helped us with our longevity throughout the match."
 
The Sharks will continue conference play at home when they take on Sacred Heart at home in the Steinberg Wellness Center on Saturday night at 5 p.m.