Skyhawks open NE-10 Volleyball Championship on the road

Sophomore setter Emily Iverson ranks 30th overall among all setters in Division II.

EASTON, Mass. (November 12, 2012) – Eighth-seeded Stonehill College will make its third-straight appearance in the Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) Volleyball Championship on Tuesday, November 13 as the Skyhawks travel to New Haven, Conn. to take on the University of New Haven, seeded first overall, in the quarterfinal round at 7 p.m. in Charger Gymnasium.

Admission for Tuesday's match is $6.00 for adults, $4.00 for senior citizens and/or children and $1.00 for students. Programs, which will be provided by the NE-10, will be sold for $1.00. All proceeds from program sales will be donated to New Haven's Make-A-Wish fund.

Fans that are unable to attend the contest can view live stats of the match via New Haven's athletics website, www.newhavenchargers.com, or watch the live video feed being provided by the Chargers athletics communications department.

The Skyhawks enter the NE-10 Volleyball Championship with a 13-14 record overall and 7-8 mark in the Conference. Stonehill, who is coming off of a 3-0 victory in its last match against UMass Lowell on Tuesday, November 6, ranks second overall in kills per set (12.96), third in assists per set (11.78) and fourth in hitting percentage (.195) and blocks per set (1.90).

Junior right-side hitter Kirsten Arvidson (Andover, Mass./Andover) leads the Skyhawks attack averaging 2.70 kills per set – which ranks 16th overall in the Conference – and 0.80 blocks per set. Sophomore middle hitter Meaghan Lee (Hanover, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) ranks second on the squad in kills per set (2.43) and third in blocks per set (0.75).

Freshman outside hitter Delia Phillips (St. James, N.Y./Smithtown East) checks in at third overall on the club posting a 2.27 kills per set average while sophomore Mary-Kate Catton (San Diego, Calif./Academy of Our Lady of Peace) is fourth in kills per set (2.02) and first on the team in blocks per set (1.03). Catton ranks sixth overall in the NE-10 with a 1.03 blocks per set average and 68th nationally.

Sophomore setter Emily Iverson (Elmhurst, Ill./York) facilitates the second-best offense in the Conference averaging 10.50 assists per set. Iverson currently ranks third overall in the NE-10 in assists per set and 30th nationally. Iverson also leads the Skyhawks in double-doubles this season with 15 total in 27 matches played.

Senior co-captain and libero Erin Kelly (Tinley Park, Ill./Marist) guides the backline for Stonehill with a 4.47 digs per set average on the season. Kelly is ranked sixth in the Conference and 82nd nationally in that category and tenth overall in aces per set (87th nationally) with a 0.41 average.

Senior Erin Kelly ranks sixth in the NE-10 in digs per set and 82nd overall nationally.

Stonehill has played New Haven once this season dropping a 3-1 contest to the Chargers at home on Saturday, November 3. The Skyhawks took the first set 25-23 and held a 23-22 lead in the second set before New Haven rallied to win the match. In its last two meetings with the Chargers, Stonehill has taken the first set each time as the Skyhawks earned a 25-21 victory in game one last season on October 29, 2011 on the road versus New Haven. The Chargers went on to claim a 3-2 triumph over the Skyhawks last fall.

For New Haven (24-1, 15-0 NE-10), senior outside hitter Keidy Candelaria (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Bayamon Military Academy) leads the NE-10 in kills per set at a 3.68 clip. Candelaria's kills per set average also ranks 48th overall among all NCAA Division II programs. Sophomore setter Kaulana Ane (Paia, Hawaii/Kamehameha) is first in the Conference in assists per set and 20th nationally (10.70).

The Chargers rank first in the NE-10 in kills per set (13.11), assists per set (12.33), third in blocks per set (2.13) and fifth in digs per set (15.69). Among all NCAA Division II programs, New Haven is 31st in assist per set and 35th in kills per set.

Last season, the Chargers were upset in the NE-10 Volleyball Championship quarterfinal round by UMass Lowell, 3-1. Since joining the NE-10 in 2008, New Haven has never lost a regular season match.

2012 Northast-10 Conference – Volleyball Championship
- Quarterfinals at Higher Seeds, Final Four at Highest Remaining Seed -

Tuesday, November 13 – Quarterfinals
GAME TIMES AND DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Match 1: #8 Stonehill at #1 New Haven - 7:00 p.m.
Match 2: #7 American International at #2 Adelphi – 7:00 p.m.
Match 3: #6 Pace at #3 Franklin Pierce - 5:00 p.m.
Match 4: #5 Saint Rose at #4 Southern Connecticut – 7:00 p.m.

Friday, November 16 - Semifinals
Match 5: Match 1 Winner vs. Match 4 Winner - 5:00 p.m.
Match 6: Match 2 Winner vs. Match 3 Winner  7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 17 - Championship
Match 7: Match 5 Winner vs. Match 6 Winner – 5:00 p.m.