Junior Delia Phillips helped Stonehill earn a 3-2, comeback victory at Saint Anselm tonight with her fifth straight double-double (11 kills, 15 digs).

Skyhawks extend winning streak to seven, improve to 5-0 in NE-10

MANCHESTER, N.H. (October 7, 2014) – Stonehill College rallied from a two-set deficit to claim a 3-2 (17-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-5) comeback victory at Saint Anselm College this evening in Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) volleyball action at Stoutenburgh Gym.

Junior outside hitter Delia Phillips (St. James, New York/Smithtown East) led the Skyhawks to their seventh straight victory with her fifth consecutive double-double, as she recorded 11 kills and 15 digs to go with four block assists.

Senior setter Emily Iverson (Elmhurst, Illinois/York) also posted a double-double with 38 assists and ten digs, while junior outside hitter Kelsey Weymouth (North Attleboro, Massachusetts/North Attleboro) hit .333 with 12 kills, five digs, and five blocks.

Freshman Ashley Hitchcock (Warrenville, Illinois/Benet Academy) turned in a solid all-around effort with 14 digs, eight kills, and two blocks, while classmate Claire Manuszak (Indianapolis, Indiana/Bishop Chatard) added a team-high 16 digs.

Saint Anselm was led offensively by freshman Kathryn Teets (Dix Hills, New York/Half Hallow Hills West) and junior Lauren Oxley (Bristow, Virginia/Stonewall Jackson), who recorded 16 and 12 kills, respectively.

Senior setter Natalie Steinwart (Aurora, Illinois/Aurora Central Catholic) tallied 39 assists and 13 digs, while classmate Melissa Jewett (Newton, Massachusetts/Newton North) finished with a match-high 25 digs for the Hawks.

Freshman Ashley Hitchcock tallied 14 digs, eight kills, and two blocks as Stonehill erased a two-set deficit against the Hawks.

Saint Anselm utilized a match-best .351 attack clip to take the opening frame, while Stonehill turned in a .098 attack percentage. With the set tied at 11, Saint Anselm won seven straight points to take an 18-11 lead. Stonehill won four of the next six points to draw within five, at 20-15, but the Hawks answered with a three point run to push their lead back to seven. Following two more Stonehill points, Saint Anselm wrapped up the set on consecutive kills by sophomore Brennah Gladwill (Citrus Heights, California/Oakmont) and senior Melissa Ouellet (Salem, New Hampshire/Salem).

Stonehill jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in the second frame, before the Hawks won five of the next seven points to even the score at six. After a kill by Phillips gave the Skyhawks a one point lead, Saint Anselm took command of the set with seven consecutive points to go up 13-7. Trailing 16-9, Stonehill cut into its deficit with a four point run, including kills by Phillips and Hitchcock. The Skyhawks continued to fight back, drawing as close as one, at 17-16, but another five point swing in the Hawks' favor made the score 22-16. Stonehill made one more push, winning four of the next five points, before a kill and a service ace by Gladwill ended the set and gave Saint Anselm a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third frame proved to be the tightest up to that point in the match. Stonehill took control early with a five point run to go up 5-1, but the Hawks posted their own five point streak to regain an 8-7 lead. The teams continued to trade points, and the set would see ties of 17-17, 19-19, and 21-21. The Skyhawks won the final four points to stay alive and force a fourth frame, capped by a service ace from sophomore Abby Harte (Dover, New Hampshire/Dover).

Neither team was able to take more than a two-point lead in the fourth set until the Hawks finally created some separation at 15-12. Stonehill won five of the next seven points, however, evening the score at 17. After a Saint Anselm point, the Skyhawks and Hawks posted consecutive four point runs, with the home team taking a 23-22 lead. Stonehill scored the final three points of the set on three Saint Anselm errors, forcing a fifth and final frame.

Unlike the previous two stanzas, Stonehill cruised to a ten-point victory in the fifth set. The Skyhawks went up 3-0 and eventually 8-2, before finishing off their comeback on a Saint Anselm attack error.

Stonehill (14-3, 5-0 NE-10) will look to extend its season-high seven match winning streak on Saturday night, when the Skyhawks are back on the road at Franklin Pierce University. Saint Anselm (7-8, 1-4 NE-10) will host the Ravens on Friday night in Manchester.

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