Skyhawks make it six-in-a-row behind Lee's match-leading 12 kills

EASTON, Mass. (October 22, 2011) – The Stonehill College women's volleyball team swept Pace University, 3-0, by scores of 25-19, 25-11 and 25-19 in Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) action on Saturday afternoon at Merkert Gymnasium on day two of Dig Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend.

Stonehill improves to 23-3 overall with the win, tying the second-highest win total in program history, when it was 23-8 in 1997. The Skyhawks have five regular season matches, plus postseason, to break the program's single-season wins record set in 1996 (27-8).

The Skyhawks are also out to their best start in NE-10 play with an 11-0 mark in the conference and have tied the program record for conference wins set last season. Stonehill has now won 14-straight NE-10 regular season matches dating back to its 3-1 loss against New Haven on October 30, 2010.

Freshman middle blocker Meaghan Lee (Hanover, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) powered the Stonehill offense with a match-high 12 kills for a .458 hitting percentage (12-1-24), one block solo and three block assists.

Sophomore outside hitter Sydney Maxey (Hutto, Texas/Hutto) notched the only double-double for the Skyhawks in the match, her 13^th this season and second in her last five matches played, compiling 10 kills (.450 hitting percentage) and 11 digs.

NE-10 Rookie and Setter of the Week Emily Iverson (Elmhurst, Ill./York) dished out a match-high 39 assists in addition to two kills, three digs and one block assist. Senior outside hitter Laura Huselton (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) led all players in digs with 16 to go along with eight kills for a.300 hitting percentage, one assist and one service ace.

For Pace, junior middle blocker Tamilee Webb (Hartsdale, N.Y./Ardsley) led the offense with seven kills, two assists, a pair of digs and one solo block. Senior setter Shea Hansen (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain) picked up a double-double with 21 assists and 11 digs. She also added three kills and one block assist.

In set one, Stonehill put down 18 kills – a set high for the Skyhawks – with Lee and Maxey combining for 10 kills on 19 total attempts.

Set two featured Stonehill's most efficient offensive output on the afternoon as the Skyhawks posted 14 kills for a .480 hitting percentage. Stonehill raced out to a 21-9 advantage guided by sophomore middle blocker Vivian Fitzgerald (Winfield, Ill./Aurora Central Catholic) who tallied a set-high four kills all within the Skyhawks stretch run.

The Skyhawks trailed early in set three, 9-7, but quickly regained form as Huselton posted four kills and six digs while Lee added four kills and three blocks (one solo) to close out the match.

The Skyhawks were also victorious in their fundraising efforts this the weekend raising $570.24 surpassing their goal of $500 dollars for the weekend and edged their 2010 total of $345. Fans who wish to continue to support Stonehill's Dig Pink Breast Cancer Awareness initiative are encouraged to donate through the end of October. Donations can also be made directly through the Stonehill team page at http://www.side-out.org/application/ous/fundraising_page/2493.

Stonehill hosts Bentley University in a NE-10 matchup on Tuesday, October 25 at Merkert Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Pace (16-8, 6-4 NE-10) plays host Southern New Hampshire University on Friday, October 28 at 7 p.m.

- www.stonehillskyhawks.com -