Lizzy Zimmermann	Brittany Cafiero	Kim Marino
Kristin Kirwan	Stephanie Klug

SCRANTON, Pa. - The University of Scranton volleyball team remained undefeated in Landmark Conference play on Saturday, as the Royals gutted out two tough five-set victories over visiting Moravian and Elizabethtown inside the John Long Center.

With the victories, Scranton moved to 17-6 on the year and perfect 5-0 in the Landmark. Also the with wins, the Royals have clinched a spot in the upcoming Landmark Conference Tournament early next month.

Scranton 3, Moravian 2 (25-14, 19-25, 29-31, 25-16, 15-6)

Box Score

It was a hard fought win for the Royals in their first match of the day, as the Royals bounced back from a tough loss in the third set to roll in the final two sets to take their fourth win in Landmark play.

The first set was a breeze for the Royals, as they opened up an early 11-6 lead and never looked back in an 11 point victory.

But, the second and third sets were different stories, as Moravian cruised to a six-point win in the second game, then got past the Royals in a long third set by two points after an elongated tie-break sequence.

Down 2-1, Scranton quickly opened an 11-3 lead in the fourth game on Moravian and never looked back, rolling to a nine-point victory to send the match to a decisive fifth set. There, Scranton continued to ride the wave of momentum they created in the fourth set, as they coasted after opening a quick 5-1 lead on the visiting Greyhounds early.

Overall, senior Lizzy Zimmermann (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) paced the Royal attack in the win, slamming home 17 kills, while also collecting 11 digs. Elsewhere, junior Brittany Cafiero (Merrick, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) once again registered a strong match on all ends in the win, notching 42 assists, 16 digs, and three service aces.

On the back line, senior libero Kim Marino (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) registered a season-high 19 digs, while up front, senior Rachael Cisto (Oxford, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy) had six block-assists, rounding out the top performers in the match for Scranton.

Scranton 3, Elizabethtown 2 (25-18, 17-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-10)

Box Score

The second match for the Royals on the day was a see-saw affair with Elizabethtown, in which Scranton once again got the upper hand in a decisive fifth set.

Following an opening set in which Scranton took by seven points after opening up a 16-10 lead midway through, Elizabethtown put together a similar performance in the second set, knotting the match up at a game apiece after an eight point win.

E-Town looked poised to go up 2-1 in the match after taking a 20-17 lead late in the third game. But, Scranton clawed back to win it, going on a 8-3 run to end the set to go up 2-1 over E-Town.

But, in the fourth set, the Blue Jays came back to send things to a decisive fifth game, taking the final two points of a tie-break. There, it was a nip-and-tuck affair until the set was tied up at 9-9.

At that moment, the Royals took control. scoring six of the final seven points of the match to storm past the Blue Jays, earning their fifth win in Landmark Conference play in the process.

Overall, freshman Kristin Kirwan (Park Ridge, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy) paced the Royal attack in the victory, hammering home a season-high 19 kills.

Meanwhile, senior Stephanie Klug (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) also had a season-high in kills with 12, and Cafiero posted a season-best in the assist department with 49 in the win. Cafiero also added 20 digs to lead the Royal defense, as well.

The University of Scranton volleyball team returns to action on Friday when they head to the Knights Invitational on the campus of Neumann. On Friday, the Royals will take on the host Knights first at 5 p.m., then Roanoke at 7 p.m.

--ROYALS--