EASTON, Mass. (September 29, 2023) - The Stonehill College women's volleyball lost in their opening match of Family Weekend at Merkert Gymnasium Friday night as they fell to Sacred Heart University 3-0, (21-25, 21-25, 14-25).
Stonehill (1-16, 1-2 NEC): 0
Sacred Heart (4-10, 3-0 NEC): 3
(21-25, 21-25, 14-25)
Skyhawk Summary
Stonehill junior Emma Graves (Berkshire, N.Y./Newark Valley) led the team with seven kills and had two block assists. Senior Lauren McCloskey (Salem, N.H./Salem) paced the Skyhawks with 10 points on six kills and a team-high four block assists. Freshman Georgia Murphy (Plano, Texas/John Paul II) had five kills, five digs, and a service ace. Senior Kristen DeLorenzo (Fayetteville, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) tallied seven digs and four assists for Stonehill. Freshman Maddie Schamaun (Rockville, Md./Wheaton) notched 12 assists to lead the team and match her career-high while also leading the team with 10 digs. Sophomore Delaney Mihelich (Fullerton, Calif./Rosary Academy) assisted on eight points and had two digs.
How it Happened
SET 1 | Stonehill and Sacred started the first set with four ties as the teams found themselves knotted up, 11-11, as McCloskey began the match with two kills. A 9-5 run from the Pioneers gave them a 20-15 lead late in the opening set. With their backs against the wall, the Skyhawks scored three straight points to pull with three (24-21), but Sacred Heart scored the last point to win the first set.
SET 2 | Both teams started the match with 3-0 runs as the Pioneers would go up by one point (7-6) after two kills and two errors. Seven out of the next nine points went to Sacred Heart as they took a 14-8 lead. The Skyhawks countered with two straight scores (14-10), but Sacred Heart doubled their lead to eight points late in the round, as the Pioneers were one point away from taking a 2-0 lead in the match. Stonehill rallied for five straight as Graves blasted two kills cutting the deficit to just 24-21. A set error led to the final point from Sacred Heart as they won 25-21.
SET 3 | Four straight points from the Pioneers gave them an early lead but Stonehill scored four of the next five to pull within a single point (5-4). Sacred Heart erupted, rattling off an 8-1 run to boost their lead up to eight points (13-5). The Pioneers reached their largest lead of the match, building a 12-point advantage late in the round as they stifled the Skyhawks chances of a comeback (22-10). Four consecutive points from Stonehill brought them back within single digits but it wasn't enough as Sacred Heart won the match in three sets.
Up Next
Stonehill Volleyball is back in action tomorrow night as they host Northeast Conference foe Central Connecticut State at 5 p.m. in Merkert Gymnasium.
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