Julia Crilly	Michaela McCrudden

Box Score (Scranton-Eastern)
Box Score (Scranton-Wisconsin-Whitewater)

NEWPORT NEWS, Va.—The University of Scranton volleyball team took on two nationally-ranked teams in the opening round of the Christopher Newport Invitational Friday.

And both showed why they're so highly regarded.

Behind nine kills from Katrina Pisch and 27 assists and seven digs from Rikki Schlager, 15th-ranked Eastern University improved to 14-2 with a 3-0 victory over the Royals in the first match.

Junior outside hitter Julia Crilly (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) led Scranton with six kills and 10 digs and senior outside hitter Michaela McCrudden (Fort Washington, Pa./Mt. St. Joseph Academy) chipped in four kills and 10 digs.

The Royals didn't have as much luck in the nightcap, either, dropping a 3-0 decision to 17th-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater.    Ariel Feiertag led Whitewater, now 14-4, with 11 kills and Kim Frei finished with 29 assists and seven digs.

Crilly was once again the bright spot for Scranton, finishing with 11 kills and eight digs and freshman setter Bailey Woods (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) recorded 12 of the Royals' 19 assists.

The losses drop Scranton to 5-14.

Crilly enters tomorrow's matches just eight digs shy of becoming one of 15 players in Scranton history to record 1000 digs in a career. 

--ROYALS--