Skyhawks will compete in ninth program NE10 semifinal match
Hitchcock led the Skyhawks offense with a career-high 19 kills |
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (November 14, 2017) – The fifth-seeded Stonehill College women's volleyball team defeated the fourth-seeded Adelphi University in four sets in the Northeast-10 Conference Quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday night in Garden City, New York. The Skyhawks won with set scores of 25-23, 25-21, 20-25, and 25-19.
Stonehill (12-14, 8-6 NE10) saw three players in double-digit kills including Ashley Hitchcock (Warrenville, Illinois/Benet Academy) with a career-high 19 kills, Katherine DeLanty (Smithtown, New York/Smithtown West) with 15 kills, and Allyson Hughes (Modesto, California/Big Valley Christian) with 12 kills. Hitchcock and DeLanty also notched double-doubles chipping in 12 and 16 digs, respectively. Senior Claire Manuszak (Indianapolis, Indiana/Bishop Chatard) chipped in 26 digs for her 15th-straight match with double-digit digs. Freshman setter Jessica Givens (Albuquerque, New Mexico/St. Pius X) registered 49 assists, while the team totaled 10 aces
Adelphi (13-15, 9-5 NE10) only saw Victoria Cast in double-digit kills, recording 12. Megan Manierski recorded four aces and 14 digs, while Madison Canestrari and Leilani Vazquez notched five and four blocks, respectively.
This is the ninth time in program history for the Skyhawks to make a NE10 semifinal match, with the most recent semifinal contest coming in 2014, when Stonehill lost to Bentley University, 3-0.
The first set was back and forth for most of the beginning, until the Skyhawks took on a seven point lead, 23-16. The Panthers were able to score five-straight points, 22-23, as Stonehill was able to finish the game with a two-point lead, 25-23.
Givens tallied 49 assists in the victory |
Stonehill's .243 hitting percentage in the second set was their highest of the nightcap, as Adelphi averaged a .135 hitting clip.
Stonehill took an early seven-point lead, 14-7, but Adelphi once again came close with a three-point deficit, 21-24, from a 14-10 run. DeLanty wrapped up the frame with her ninth kill of the night, 25-21.
Adelphi battled in the third set, tying up the frame nine times, 11-11. The Panthers were able to take control of the set with its six-point advantage, 22-16, but the Skyhawks found a groove again with three-straight points, 19-22. With a final 3-1 run for Adelphi, the Panthers were able to cut the set deficit to one, with a 25-20 third set victory.
Stonehill opened up the fourth set with an 8-2 lead, but Adelphi rallied with a 15-9 run to tie the frame at 17, 17-17. The Skyhawks bounced back with an 8-2 run, to get back on top of the set, 25-19 for match point.
Stonehill travels to West Haven, Connecticut to face No. 1 seeded and host of the final four, the University of New Haven on Friday, November 17 at either 5:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. in Charger Gymnasium.
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