STANDISH, ME - Saint Joseph's (5-4) required just three sets to dispose of Maine-Machias (25-13, 25-5, 25-13) and Green Mountain College (25-14, 25-12, 25-23) on the opening night of the SJC Autumn Invitational.

Green Mountain defeated Lyndon State 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-10) in the other 6:00 PM contest and Lyndon handled Machias 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-22) in the second 8:00 PM match.

The Monks blasted 24 aces in the opener against Maine-Machias, with Samantha Varrell '12 (Portsmouth, NH) notching eight to lead the tourney hosts. Caitlin Cleary '13 (Scarborough, ME) posted eight kills and Kaleigh McHale '12 (Dracut, MA) had six digs. Elisa Boyd '13 (Anniston, AL) and Robyn Harrison '13 (Killeen, TX) recorded four kills apiece for the Clippers in a losing effort.

St. Joe's squared off against Green Mountain in the nightcap and used 27 kills and 20 service aces to capture a decisive 3-0 triumph. Cleary continued her high level of play and posted 12 digs, 9 kills and 8 aces to help lead the Royal Blue to victory. Kiah Begley '13 (Berwick, ME/St. Thomas Aquinas) dished out 20 assists, Sarah Hawkes '13 (Pownal, ME) had 8 kills, McHale notched nine digs and Jordan Pelczar '12 (Meredith, NH) recorded 10 digs in the win.

Green Mountain was led by Melanie Rodriguez '11 (Hoboken, NJ) and Emma Brinley-Brinkley '10 (Lakeville, CT), as both players collected 10 digs in the loss. Jen McGuire '11 (Nutley, NJ) chipped in with seven assists.

The Eagles defeated the Monks twice last year in the Autumn Invitational, including a thrilling 3-2 victory in the championship.

The action resumes Saturday morning at the Alfond Center, as St. Joe's plays Lyndon State and Green Mountain takes on Maine-Machias in the 10:00 AM time slot. Consolation (12:00 PM) and Championship (1:30 PM) matches are scheduled to follow.

St. Joseph's (Me.) def. Maine Machias 25-13,25-5,25-13

Maine Machias (0-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Jessica Gerrish
1-0-0; Sarah Blankenship 1-0-0; Elisa Boyd 1-1-0; Sabree Rodriguez
1-0-0; Amber Frey 1-1-0; Alex Kolinich 1-0-0; Totals 6-2-0.0.
(Assists) - . (Dig leaders) - Elisa Boyd 4; Robyn Harrison 4

St. Joseph's (Me.) (4-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caitlin Cleary
8-4-0; Sarah Hawkes 5-0-1; Jordan Pelczar 3-6-0; Samantha Varrell
2-8-0; Leocadya Koziski 1-2-0; Kiah Begley 0-4-1; Totals 19-24-1.0.
(Assists) - . (Dig leaders) - Kaleigh McHale 6; Leocadya Koziski 4

Site: Standish, Maine (Alfond Center)

Date: Sep 11, 2009   Attend: 50   Time: 1hr 6m

Referees: Bob Wooten, Rob Arp 

St. Joseph's (Me.) def. Green Mountain 25-14,25-12,25-23

Green Mountain (2-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Emma Brinley-Buckley
6-2-2; Melanie Rodriguez 6-1-0; Megan O'Keefe 3-0-0; Chanleigh Casey
2-0-0; Olesea Cojohari 1-0-0; Jen McGuire 0-1-0; Totals 18-4-2.0.
(Assists) - . (Dig leaders) - Emma Brinley-Buckley 10; Melanie
Rodriguez 10

St. Joseph's (Me.) (5-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caitlin Cleary
9-8-1; Sarah Hawkes 8-0-1; Jordan Pelczar 4-2-1; Leocadya Koziski
3-3-0; Samantha Varrell 2-3-0; Kiah Begley 1-3-0; Kaleigh McHale
0-1-0; Totals 27-20-2.0. (Assists) - Kiah Begley 20. (Dig leaders) -
Caitlin Cleary 12; Jordan Pelczar 10; Kaleigh McHale 9

Site: Standish, Maine (Alfond Center)

Date: Sep 11, 2009   Attend: 40   Time: 1hr 20m

Referees: Bob Wooten, Rob Arp