Skyhawks average a .416 hitting percentage over two matches
EASTON, Mass. (September 3, 2017) – The Stonehill women's volleyball team wrapped up the Skyhawk Invitational with a 2-1 record after going undefeated on Sunday, September 3, blanking Dominican College, 3-0, and Bloomfield College, 3-0 in Merkert Gymnasium.
Match 1: Stonehill 3, Dominican 0
Stonehill's Katherine DeLanty (Smithtown, New York/Smithtown West) tallied a match-high 12 kills and her second match with double-digit kills. The senior totaled three blocks and one service ace, while classmate Marykay Nasby (Belle Plaine, Minnesota/Belle Plain) recorded 11 digs.
The Skyhawks dominated the first set with its' .655 hitting percentage and 19 kills to the Chargers' six. Stonehill opened the frame with a six-point lead, 10-4. Dominican went on a short 7-2 run, 11-12, to get them within one. Claire Manuszak (Indianapolis, Indiana/Bishop Chatard) started the Skyhawks on an 11-3 run, where Stonehill closed the game with four-straight points with Ashley Hitchcock (Warrenville, Illinois/Benet Academy) serving, 25-15.
Dominican took its first lead of the match, 4-3, but Stonehill recorded five-straight points, 8-4, and continued controlling court with its largest lead of 11, 24-13. Megan Pennino (Wantagh, New York/Wantagh) tallied the final point of the game for a 25-15 win.
Stonehill once again outhit the Dominican with their .286 hitting percentage, compared to the Chargers -.115 hitting clip in the third game. With its' largest lead of the match, 24-9, 15 points, Skyhawks allowed two points before wrapping up the frame, 25-11.
Match 2: Stonehill 3 – Bloomfield 0
Hitchcock was the only player on the floor that tallied double-digit kills, recording 12. Freshman Jessica Givens (Albuquerque, New Mexico/St. Pius X) notched 39 assists in the victory, as the team combined for 37 digs. Also as a team, the Skyhawks totaled 43 kills compared to the Bears' 19.
Bloomfield took an early one-point lead in the first frame, 3-2, but it was short lived, as the Skyhawks rallied and started with a 10-point advantage, 18-8, and extended it to 16 points by the end of the set, 25-9.
The second game saw four tied scores and three lead changes, as Stonehill took charge after Bloomfield tied the set at eight, 8-8. The Bears were able to cut the deficit to one, 16-17, but the Skyhawks went on an 8-2 run, taking the second frame, 25-18.
Stonehill once again dominated the third set outhitting Bloomfield with its' .481 hitting percentage compared to the Bears' .040 hitting clip. The Skyhawks held a six-point lead, 4-10, as Hitchcock and DeLanty went up for a block, helping Nasby with a five-point serving stint, 15-4. Despite an 8-10 run by the Bears, the Skyhawks were able to take the match, 25-13.
Stonehill travels to Indianapolis, Indiana for the UIndy Invitational hosted by the University of Indianapolis form Friday, September 8 to Saturday, September 9. The Skyhawks will first face Winona State University on Friday for a 9:00 a.m. match, followed by the University of Indianapolis at 3:00 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter and Facebook. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
Skyhawk Invitational All-Tournament Team:
Peyton Lindblad – Shepherd University
Jessica Karcz – Shepherd University/
Jessica Givens – Stonehill College
Jandra Fabian – Bloomfield College
Natalia Perez – Dominican College
