SCRANTON - It was a banner afternoon for The University of Scranton volleyball team, as the Royals stormed past Western Connecticut State (3-1) and Lebanon Valley (3-0) to finish the 2021 Scranton Invitational with an unbeaten ledger.

With the victories, the Royals are now 4-0 on the young season.

Scranton 3, Western Connecticut State 1 (21-25, 25-11, 25-21, 25-23) | Box Score

To kick off the day, the Royals got off to a slow start, but was impressive over the final three sets to take a 3-1 victory over visiting Western Connecticut State.

After a first set defeat, the Royals absolutely coasted to a second set win, as they opened a 17-1 lead in the frame. It was more of the same in the third set, as Scranton got up, 19-14. But, West. Conn. came back, tying the game up at 21-all late.

However, the Royals rattled off four straight points to take the set and the lead in the contest with a four-point victory. With an opportunity to end the match in the fourth set, the Royals did just that, but not without things being interesting.

Leading 16-10 in the middle of the frame, West. Conn. once again made a run at the Royals lead, eventually tying things up at 20-20, then 23-23. But, Scranton was able to finish off the visiting Colonials with back-to-back points, as seniorEryn Boken (South Pasadena, Calif./Westridge School for Girls) had a kill, and fellow senior Molly Dunfee (King of Prussia, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) posted an ace to clinch the win.

Overall in the West. Conn. match, sophomore Stephanie Margolies(Westfield, N.J./Westfield) continued her stellar play early in the season with 18 kills, a match-high. Margolies also had nine digs in the win, as well. Elsewhere, Boken had 14 kills to match a career-high and nine service aces, which was a career-best.

Setting up the attack all match was junior Caileigh Cox(Randolph, N.J./Randolph), who had 41 assists, to go along with seven digs.

Scranton 3, Lebanon Valley 0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-22) | Box Score

In the final game of the weekend for the Royals, they made quick work of Lebanon Valley, winning the first and third games by identical scores, while rolling to a nine point win in the second set.

In the first two sets, the Royals used rallies in the middle of action to open insurmountable leads. In the first, it was a 19-11 edge, while in the second, Scranton finished play on a 13-4 run, opening up a game that they barely led early, 12-11.

The third and final set, however, saw LVC attack back and open a 22-21 lead late on the Royals. But, Scranton ended the game with a final run (4-1) to clinch the three-set victory.

Overall in the LVC match, Boken and freshman Maddie Orth (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) led the attack with 10 kills apiece, while freshmanErin Keaveney (Collegeville, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) had eight kills. Dunfee had a strong game on defense with 19 digs and five service aces, while Margolies went into double-figures yet again in digs with 12. Cox, meanwhile, finished with 37 assists.

For their efforts on an unbeaten 3-0 weekend for Scranton, Boken and Cox were named to the All-Scranton Invitational Team, with Boken earning MVP accolades.

The University of Scranton volleyball team returns to action on Wednesday, as they host Ithaca in the John Long Center. First serve is set for 7 p.m.

--ROYALS--