Skyhawks fall to 3-3 overall in the NE-10 Conference

Mary-Kate Catton posted a team-high .562 hitting percentage and nine kills.

RINDGE, N.H. (October 6, 2012) – The Stonehill College women's volleyball team fell to Franklin Pierce University, 3-0, by scores of 25-18, 25-23 and 25-14 on Saturday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) action at the Fieldhouse.

Offensively for Stonehill, sophomore middle blocker Mary-Kate Catton (San Diego, Calif./Academy of Our Lady of Peace) had a team-high nine kills (.562 hitting percentage) and one block assist. Junior right-side hitter Kirsten Arvidson (Andover, Mass./Andover) notched eight kills and one block assist while freshman outside hitter Kelsey Weymouth (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro) posted eight kills (.278 hitting percentage) and seven digs.

Sophomore setter Emily Iverson (Elmhurst, Ill./York) dished out 30 assists and also added five digs, one kill and one service ace. Senior captain and libero Erin Kelly (Tinley Park, Ill./Marist) led the defense with 14 digs, five assists and two service aces.

For the Ravens, sophomore outside hitter Catie Swiderski (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) tallied a match-high 11 kills for a .417 hitting percentage, four service aces and three digs.

Junior outside hitter Natasha Ray (Colorado Springs, Colo./Yavapai College) filled out the stat sheet with a match-high 15 digs, six kills, four blocks (one solo), one service ace and one assist. Junior setter Stephanie Svorinic (Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale CC) compiled 23 assists, two kills, a pair of digs and one block assist.

Franklin Pierce used a .340 hitting percentage, 39 kills, 38 digs, ten service aces and eight team blocks to complete the sweep over Stonehill.

The Ravens finished off set one without giving up the lead or allowing the score to be tied after jumping out to a 16-4 advantage to start the game.

Franklin Pierce held off Stonehill's best attack in set two as the Skyhawks registered a match-high .545 hitting percentage on 21 kills, three errors and 33 attempts. Set two saw ten ties and four lead changes with Stonehill having its last lead in the game at 18-17.

In set three, the Skyhawks were limited to a .031 hitting percentage (seven kills, six errors, 32 attempts) while Franklin Pierce was led by Ray and junior right-side hitter Ashley Bruce (Hampton Falls, N.H./Winnacunnet) who both had four kills apiece.

Stonehill (8-8, 3-3 NE-10) hosts Merrimack College on Tuesday, October 9 for an NE-10 matchup on "Purple Out Night" in Merkert Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Franklin Pierce (9-10, 3-1 NE-10) wraps up its tri-match against New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) at 3 p.m. later today.