BROOKLYN, N.Y.- (November 12, 2022)- The Stonehill College women's volleyball team put a bow on their inaugural Division I season with a road matchup at St. Francis College Brooklyn as the squad fell, 3-0 (22-25, 19-25, 19-25) Saturday afternoon at Anthony J. Genovesi Center.

Leah Michalowski set a new career-high in kills with a team-high six after she yesterday set a previous career-best with five. Mia Berardino finished with five kills and ended up leading the team in the category with 201 kills on the year. The last freshman to finish with at least 200 kills was Basia Peragine in the 2019 season when she also had 201. Molly Turner dished out a team-best, 14 assists which brought her to 1,032 in her Stonehill career and places her ninth in program history. Delaney Mihelich was not far behind with eight and she finished the year with 418 assists the last freshman to post at least 400 assists was Lauren Wilke during the 2018 season when had 738. Defensively, Lindsey Peirson assisted on a career-best, four blocks on the afternoon, and not far behind were Berardino and Michalowski with three. Bianca Fitch recorded a new personal-best 12 digs. 

Stonehill's offense started out fast as the squad had an early 8-3 advantage highlighted by two kills from Michalowski and Pierson. However, St. Francis Brooklyn chipped away at the deficit and brought it to two (12-10) but Stonehill continued to give themselves breathing room as the squad pushed the lead back to four (17-13) after a St. Francis College Brooklyn attack error. Despite the lead, the Terriers went on a 4-0 run and tied the opening set at 17. After both sides went back and forth, the Terriers grabbed their first lead of the set by going up 20-19. Stonehill took advantage of another St. Francis Brooklyn attack error and were knotted back up at 20 but sides continued to exchange points and after Michalowski tied the set at 22, the Terriers closed out the opening set with a 3-0 run (25-22).

In the second set, St. Francis Brooklyn jumped out to a 6-3 lead but after a kill from Kaitlyn Watson and a Terriers error, the Skyhawks found themselves down one (6-5). St. Francis ended up on a mini run and went up 10-6 but despite the four-point lead, Stonehill took the lead back thanks to a 5-1 rally spearheaded by two service aces by Turner. However, the Terriers retook the lead, 14-11 but again, Stonehill tied things at 14 after another kill by Michalowski. Both sides continued to play back and forth from there and after a St. Francis Brooklyn service error kept Stonehill within one (18-17), the Terriers finished the second set on a 7-2 run for the 25-19 set win.

For the final set, Stonehill once again jumped out to a quick lead by the score of 6-2 highlighted by two kills from Peirson. However, St. Francis Brooklyn stormed back with a 4-0 run and evened things at six. The Skyhawks pushed back ahead with a three-point lead (9-6) thanks to a kill from Lauren McCloskey. Despite the lead, St. Francis Brooklyn pushed back and went ahead 14-9 thanks to an 8-0 run. But Stonehill would get back within two (16-14) after a 5-2 rally led by kills from Michalowski and Berardino. Unfortunately, that was the closest the Terriers allowed Stonehill to get for the rest of the match as they secured the sweep with a 9-5 spurt (25-19).

Stonehill concludes their inaugural Division I season with a 3-27 record and a 1-13 mark in Northeast Conference play. Stonehill earned their first win of the year when they shutout familiar foe, Saint Michael's College, 3-0 back on September 17. The Skyhawks first Division I win came in an NEC matchup against Merrimack on October 21 when the Purple and White won 3-1. The squad went on to win their next match after that when they took down the University of Hartford, 3-1.

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