FAIRFIELD, CONN. (October 15, 2022)- Finishing its three-game road trip in Fairfield, Stonehill College women's volleyball stepped into the house of Northeast Conference runner-up, Sacred Heart University. The end result went in the Pioneers' favor, as the Skyhawks fell, 3-0 (13-25, 20-25, 15-25).

Lauren McCloskey led the offensive attack with nine kills. The freshman has now finished with five or more kills 12 times this year. Not far behind was Emma Graves who set a new career-high in kills with eight. Delaney Mihelich guided the offense with 16 assists and it marked the third time in her last four matches of 15 or more assists. Defensively, Kristen DeLorenzo posted 14 digs which marked her 10th time this year with 10 or more digs.

In the opening set, Stonehill jumped out to a 4-2 lead thanks to a Leah Michalowski kill but the Pioneers quickly ended up tying things at five. From there, Sacred Heart pulled away thanks to an 8-0 run which made it 14-6. Even though the Skyhawks pulled within six (16-9) after a kill from Graves, the Pioneers wrapped up the first set by a score of 25-17 thanks to a 9-4 push. Three different Skyhawks guided the offense in the opening frame with two kills apiece (Kaitlyn Watson, Graves, and McCloskey). 

Set number two started out much different for the Purple and White as the squad raced out to a 9-4 advantage spearheaded by three kills from McCloskey and two from Graves. Watson also chipped in a service ace during Stonehill's offensive outburst. Sacred Heart chipped away at the deficit and pulled within two (13-11) behind a 7-4 rally and then would recapture the lead with another 7-4 run (18-17). After the Pioneers went up five (22-17), Stonehill brought things within three (23-20) thanks to two kills from Graves but Sacred Heart ended the late push when they grabbed the next points for a 25-20 set victory. 

Stonehill found themselves up to two early in the third set (5-3) thanks to kills from Mihelich, McCloskey, and Graves. Alayna Rooney also had a service ace in the opening moments of the third. After both sides went back and forth for the next few plays, the Pioneers ended up tying the frame at eight. Stonehill went back ahead by two (11-9) courtesy of a McCloskey kill and a Sacred Heart service error. However, the Pioneers retook the lead 9-1 run which made the score 18-12. The Skyhawks pulled back within five (20-15) behind a 3-2 rally but ultimately, the Pioneers secured the match sweep with a 5-0 push (25-15). In the final set, four teammates led Stonehill with two kills (Lindsey Peirson, Watson, Graves, and McCloskey). 

Up Next

Stonehill returns home and looks for redemption when the Purple and White host the University of New Hampshire on Wednesday, October 19 at 7 p.m. The last time the Skyhawks and Wildcats faced off, it was in Durham, N.H. where the hosts topped Stonehill, 3-0. 

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