Rachael Cisto	Julia Crilly
Bailey Woods	Lizzy Zimmermann

Box Score
Photo Gallery (courtesy of Dan Ceccacci)

SCRANTON, Pa.—Junior outside hitter Julia Crilly (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) tied her season-high with 23 kills and freshman setter Bailey Woods (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) finished with 29 assists to lead The University of Scranton to a 3-1 victory over Misericordia University on Dig Pink Night to raise breast cancer awareness Thursday at the Long Center.

Crilly also recorded 13 digs—her 11th ‘double-double’ of the season and the 43rd of her career—and sophomore outside hitter Lizzy Zimmermann (Livingston, NJ/Livingston) contributed eight kills and two blocks as the Royals won their second straight match to improve to 7-19.

Sophomore outside hitter Meghan Stack (Douglasville, Pa./Daniel Boone) and junior Shelby Brochetti (Walkill, NY/Walkill) combined for 26 kills and 30 digs for Misericordia, which fell to 8-13.

The Royals hit .305 for the match, their second highest total of the season, and controlled the net with 13 blocks, which included four each from sophomore Rachael Cisto (Oxford, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy) and senior Kelly Johnson (Pearl River, NY/Pearl River).

After dropping the first set, 25-21, Scranton picked up momentum in winning the next two, 25-17 and 25-16, respectively, before it appeared as if the Cougars might send the match into a fifth and deciding set.  Misericordia built up a 23-19 lead in the fourth set before Crilly ignited a 6-1 rally with back-to-back kills.  Scranton also received a service ace from sophomore Kimberly Marino (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) and a kill and block from Johnson during the run.

With 23 kills tonight, Crilly moves into sole possession of sixth place on the Royals’ all-time list with 1106, while Johnson’s four blocks gives her 234 for her career, the 11th most in Scranton history.

The Royals will return to action next Saturday, October 19, against Goucher College in the second round of Landmark Conference round-robin competition at the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.

--ROYALS--