Kristin Kirwan	Catherine Manning
Kyra Bevenour	Kindler Norman

Box Score vs. Misericordia
Box Score vs. RIT

The University of Scranton volleyball team started their 2018 campaign on the right foot on Friday night by winning a pair of matches in the John Long Center on the first day of the Scranton Invitational.  The Royals (2-0) opened the day with a three-set sweep of Misericordia before claiming a four-set decision over RIT in the nightcap.

Match 1 vs. Misericordia

In Friday's season opener against the Cougars (0-1), Scranton won by set scores of 25-17, 25-19, and 26-24 to claim the three-set victory.

Megan Monastra (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) and Kristin Kirwan (Park Ridge, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy) tied for the team-lead with nine kills apiece for the Royals, who hit .257 as a team in the victory.

Kyra Bevenour (Sicklerville, N.J./Washington Township) tied for a game-high with 31 assists and matched teammates Kristin Bush (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland) and Jillian Graham (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) for the Scranton lead with six digs each.

Catherine Manning (Eastchester, N.Y./Eastchester) and Trinity Manning (Point Lookout, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) added four blocks apiece for the Royals' who totaled 16 blocks as a team in the contest.

Match 2 vs. RIT

In Friday's second match versus the Engineers (1-1), Scranton took a 2-0 advantage with a pair of narrow, 25-23 decisions, but RIT stayed alive with a 25-20 win in the third set.  The Royals quashed any hopes of a comeback by the Engineers by cruising to a 25-14 decision in the fourth frame.

Kirwan paced Scranton's attack with 13 kills while Kate Calabro (Seaford, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) put down 12 kills in the match. 

Kindler Norman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) led all players with 32 assists and 21 digs and was joined in double-figure digs by Regina Schetroma (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) (15) and Molly Dunfee (King of Prussia, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) (10).

Manning added five more blocks against RIT for the Royals, who posted a .176 hitting percentage in the victory.

Up Next

The Royals will close out the Scranton Invitational with a pair of matches on Saturday in the Long Center, taking on Brockport at 10:30 a.m. and Eastern at 4:30 p.m.

--ROYALS--