Sophomore Taylor Stevens posted team-highs in digs (18) and assists (13) as Stonehill dropped a 3-1 contest to Dominican this evening.

Sophomore Taylor Stevens records team-highs in both assists (13) and digs (18)

ORANGEBURG, N.Y. (September 19, 2014) – Stonehill College was unable to overcome a two-set deficit as the Skyhawks fell to Dominican College, 3-1 (25-16, 25-23, 18-25, 28-26) this evening in non-conference volleyball action at the Hennessy Center.

Junior outside hitter Delia Phillips (St. James, New York/Smithtown East) led the offensive effort with 11 kills, and she also added seven digs and two service aces. Classmate Kelsey Weymouth (North Attleboro, Massachusetts/North Attleboro) tallied six kills and seven digs, while senior middle blocker Meaghan Lee (Hanover, Massachusetts/Notre Dame Academy) recorded six kills and a match-high five blocks.

Defensively, sophomore Taylor Stevens (Foster, Rhode Island/Ponaganset) led the Skyhawks with 18 digs, while also posting a team-high 13 assists. Freshman libero Claire Manuszak (Indianapolis, Indiana/Bishop Chatard), who has won consecutive Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week awards, added 16 digs.

Dominican was led by sophomore outside hitter McKenzie John (Lafayette, Lousiana/Lafayette), who registered a double-double with a team-best 16 kills to go with ten digs. Junior setter Amanda Hallstein (Holtsville, New York/Sachem East) totaled 21 digs, 20 assists, and two aces, while sophomore libero Angela Kim (Marlton, New Jersey/Cherokee) finished with 16 digs.

Stonehill dropped the opening set, 25-16, before falling behind 23-17 late in the second frame. The Skyhawks stormed back with the next six points to tie it up on a kill by Phillips and five Dominican errors, but the Chargers won the set with consecutive kills by senior Kayla Dexter (Selah, Washington/Selah) and junior Keely Fink (Lagrangeville, New York/Arlington).

Stonehill stayed alive with a 25-18 victory in the third frame, as the Skyhawks went on a 9-3 run midway through the set to extend their lead from two (11-9) to eight (20-12).

Stonehill built a lead early in the fourth set, but Dominican scored six consecutive points to take a 12-7 lead. The Skyhawks fought back, winning eight of the next ten points, led by three from Phillips. The back-and-forth frame continued, as the Chargers won six straight points to take a commanding 20-15 advantage. Trailing 24-18, Stonehill was able to come all the way back to tie the match one more time, aided by several Dominican errors. The teams traded the next four points, until the Chargers were finally able to end the match on kills by Dexter and junior Ashley Joyner (Edgewood, Maryland/Joppatowne).

Stonehill (7-2, 1-0 Northeast-10) will look to bounce back from just its second loss of the season tomorrow afternoon, as the Skyhawks are set to take on LIU Post at 2 p.m. in Brookeville, New York. Dominican (4-0, 2-0 CACC) is back in action tomorrow afternoon as well, when the Chargers play host to NE-10 foe Southern Connecticut State University at 1 p.m.

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