PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore Katie Sylvia (Lee, N.H./Oyster River) posted a double-double Tuesday evening with 12 kills and 14 digs, leading Plymouth State University to a 3-0 victory over Saint Joseph's College in non-conference women's volleyball action at Foley Gym.
The Monks gave the home team all it could handle in the opening set before PSU pulled out a 25-22 verdict. The Panthers got off to a big lead in the second set before winning 25-16, and then put the match away with a 25-14 triumph in the third set. PSU improves its record to 2-5 on the season while the Monks fall to 4-6.
Sophomore Kayla Wyland (Melrose, Mass.) also smashed nine kills for PSU with a .400 attack percentage, while senior Jana Nieman (Fair Lawn, N.J.) collected eight kills and a.292 attack percentage. Freshman libero Brenna Peruch (Cave Creek, Ariz.) recorded 16 digs and sophomore Rachel Morrissey (Salem, N.H.) made 12, and junior setter Kirsten Perrotta (Hudson, N.H.) was good for 30 assists.
Junior Felicia Wachowiak (Milton, N.H.) paced the Monks with four kills. Junior Abbie McPhee (Epping, N.H.) topped the team with 16 digs and junior Sam Wright (Westport, Mass.) added 13, and junior setter Alli Hollander (Thermal, Calif.) contributed 10 assists.
PSU jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first set, but had trouble putting the pesky Monks away. The visitors pulled to within three points (18-15), forcing a Panther timeout, and then to within two points (24-22), forcing another timeout. PSU withstood the challenge to pull out the set.
The second set was tied 3-3 when PSU rallied, earning 11 of the next 12 points, sparked by the serving of sophomore Hannah Hyatt (Andover, Conn.). Saint Joseph's couldn't overcome the 14-4 deficit and PSU went on to an easy win in the set. PSU jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the third set on the serving of Morrissey, and held off a Monks' rally later in the set to secure the win.
Plymouth State will compete in the Granite State Challenge this weekend, facing Colby-Sawyer College and Rivier University Friday at Colby-Sawyer, and then meeting Daniel Webster College and Keene State College Saturday at DWC. Saint Joseph's returns home to host Johnson & Wales University Saturday in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup at 1:00 p.m.
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
