LORETTO, PA. (September 23, 2022)- The Stonehill College women's volleyball team kicked off Northeast Conference play with a road trip to Saint Francis University where the Skyhawks fell, 3-0 (12-25, 22-25, 20-25) Friday afternoon at the DeGol Arena.
Jentry Allen led the Skyhawks with 12 kills Friday. She has eclipsed the 10-kill mark three times this season and each time she finished with 12 kills. Allen has now posted 13 career matches with 10 or more kills. Not far behind was Lauren McCloskey as she posted eight kills which marked the sixth time this season she finished with five or more kills. Delaney Mihelich guided the squad's offense with 16 assists on the day and has now finished with 15 or more assists in her last three matches that include a career-high 17 versus Saint Michael's (September 17). Molly Turner was right behind with 14 assists which marked her eighth time this year with 10 or more assists. Defensively, McCloskey and Mia Berardino teamed up with two block assists each.
|
Delaney Mihelich led the Skyhawks with 16 assists Friday afternoon (Photo Credit: Andrew Katsames). |
Early in the opening set, Stonehill jumped out to a 2-1 lead after a kill from McCloskey, however, after the Red Flash tied it at two, they ended up going on a 13-2 run for their largest lead of the set (15-4). Later in the opening set, the Skyhawks cut Saint Francis's lead in half (22-11) after they capitalized on a Red Flash attack error. Despite knocking the lead down, the Red Flash went on a 4-1 push to seal set one. In the opening frame, McCloskey led the purple and white with two kills.
Saint Francis seemed to continue where they left off in the opening moments of set two when they jumped out to a 7-2 lead, however, the Skyhawks knocked the deficit down to one (7-6) courtesy of a 4-0 spurt led by two kills from Allen. The Charges pushed their lead back out to five (18-13) after a Stonehill attack error. After a Stonehill service error made it 19-15, the Skyhawks knotted things up at 19 with another 4-0 push highlighted by kills from Allen and Kristen Joyce. Saint Francis reclaimed the lead after an attack error to back up one, but the Skyhawks capitalized on a Red Flash attack error which tied the set back at 20. Saint Francis went up by two after a service error, but McClosky brought Stonehill back within one (23-22). However, the Red Flash ended the match with the next two points and went up 2-0.
In the third set, both sides went back and forth as neither side was able to pull ahead more than three when Saint Francis went up 6-3. However, Stonehill responded with three straight points on a kill from Allen and two Red Flash attack errors and tied things at six. Saint Francis went back up one on an attack error (8-7), but the purple and white recaptured the lead (9-8) courtesy of a kill from McCloskey and another Red Flash service error. After Saint Francis went up one (10-9), McCloskey and a Red Flash service error let the Skyhawks go back up one (11-10). However, Saint Francis pushed their lead to as much as four courtesy of a 9-4 run and made the score 19-15. When it looked like the Red Flash offense was rolling, Stonehill pushed back again with a 4-2 rally and cut the deficit to two (21-19). However, despite the late run, Saint Francis held on for the 3-0 win.
Up Next
Stonehill continues their NEC road trip tomorrow when the squad heads to Fairleigh Dickinson University for a 4 p.m. matchup.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
