Senior Mary-Kate Catton posted match-highs in both kills (17) and attack percentage (.484) in Stonehill's 3-1 win at Adelphi tonight.

Skyhawks improve to 9-2 in NE-10 play and 18-5 overall  

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (October 31, 2014) – Senior middle blocker Mary-Kate Catton (San Diego, California/Academy of Our Lady of Peace) registered match-highs with a .484 attack percentage and 17 kills as Stonehill College earned an impressive 3-1 (25-15, 25-22, 11-25, 25-18) victory at Adelphi University this evening in Northeast-10 Conference volleyball action at Adelphi's Center for Recreation and Sports.

Junior outside hitter Delia Phillips (St. James, New York/Smithtown East) posted her tenth double-double of the season with a match-best 17 digs and 13 kills, while senior middle blocker Meaghan Lee (Hanover, Massachusetts/Notre Dame Academy) added eight kills and seven digs.

Senior setter Emily Iverson (Elmhurst, Illinois/York), who became Stonehill's all-time leader in assists earlier this season, racked up a match-best 44 tonight, leaving her just one shy of 4000 for her career.  

Sophomore Taylor Stevens (Foster, Rhode Island/Ponaganset) recorded 11 digs, while senior Mary Nelson (Rochester, New Hampshire/Spaulding) and Catton tallied three service aces each.

The Panthers, who entered tonight's match with an NE-10 best 10-1 mark in league play, were led by senior outside hitter Haley Blunt (East Setauket, New York/Ward Melville). Blunt paced both the offensive and defensive efforts for Adelphi with team-bests in kills (11) and digs (14) to go with a pair of assists.

Stonehill's all-time assists leader Emily Iverson dished out a match-best 44 tonight, leaving her just one shy of 4000 for her career.

Sophomore outside hitter Mandy Stanislovaitis (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) tallied eight kills and six digs, while junior middle blocker Shelby Stoner (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage) added eight kills and a match-best seven blocks (two solo).

Freshman setter Megan Manierski (Macomb, Michigan/Dakota) dished out a team-high 28 assists, and sophomore libero Sierra Crook (Spokane, Washington/Mead) finished with 13 digs and three assists.

Stonehill got off to a strong start in the first set, as the Skyhawks posted a match-best .345 attack clip en route to a 25-15 win. Stonehill opened on a tear, winning 12 of the first 13 points before eventually holding a commanding 20-6 lead. Adelphi fought back, taking nine of the next 13 points, but Stonehill closed out the frame on a kill by Phillips.

The Skyhawks were forced to come from behind in the second set, as Adelphi led 10-5 early. Stonehill won eight of the next 11 points to even the score at 13, before an 8-4 run by the Skyhawks gave the visiting team a 21-17 lead. Adelphi used two kills by Stoner and a Stonehill error to pull to within one, but the Skyhawks extended their lead back to three (23-20) with two kills from Lee. Stoner registered two more kills to keep the Panthers close, before an attack error on Stanislovaitis ended the second frame in Stonehill's favor.

Adelphi opened the must-win third set just like the second, building a 10-5 advantage early on. This time, however, the Panthers extended their lead, using a three-point run followed later by a 7-0 tear to make the score 23-10. Following a short delay due to a fire alarm going off, Adelphi closed out the set with kills from Blunt and Stanislovaitis to force a fourth frame.

Stonehill took control early in the fourth, leading by a slim 8-5 margin. With the Skyhawks up 15-11, the home team posted a 4-0 run to pull even. Stonehill then took command of the set and the match by winning seven straight points, led by Nelson's three service aces, to go up 23-15. The Panthers would go on one more 3-0 run to pull to within five, at 23-18, but Stonehill ended the match on consecutive kills by Lee and Catton.

Stonehill (18-5, 9-2 NE-10) will remain in New York tomorrow for a 2 p.m. match at Pace University. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym next Friday to host Le Moyne College, before wrapping up their regular season slate on Saturday afternoon against the College of Saint Rose. Adelphi (13-11, 10-2 NE-10) is also back in action tomorrow, as the Panthers are set to host Bentley University at 1 p.m.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter and Facebook. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks mobile app on iTunes and the Android Market.