SCRANTON, Pa. – The University of Scranton volleyball team (6-6) swept a pair of matches versus Franklin & Marshall and RIT on Day one of the Electric City Invitational on Friday evening at the John Long Center in Scranton.

The Royals picked up 3-0 victories over both the Diplomats (6-6) and Tigers (4-9).

Scranton 3, Franklin & Marshall 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-19)

The Diplomats got off to a strong start in the first set as they took an early 11-5 lead, but following a Scranton timeout, the hosts immediately responded by taking the next five points including a block solo from senior Abby Rzucidlo (Garnet Valley, Pa./Ursuline Academy) that cut the lead to 11-10. Scranton took their second lead of the set at 15-14 and things would once again even at 18 apiece before the Royals closed the set on a 7-0 run capped by a kill by fellow senior Carah Vitkus (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) to seal it.

In the second set, the two teams traded points through the early stages and a Diplomats attacking error made it 13-7 in favor of the Royals, but Franklin & Marshall was able to battle back and slice the lead to two at 14-12. Leading 20-18 at one point, sophomore Sophia Hadjiyane (Huntington, N.Y./John Glenn) helped the Royals gain a two set advantage as she tallied three kills over the final eight points of the set.

The third set proved to be more of the same as neither side led by more than three until a Rzucidlo kill opened up a 21-17 edge in the late stages of the set. Vitkus slammed home a kill and also delivered a service ace to finish off the sweep with the 25-19 decision.

Vitkus led Scranton with 11 kills in the win and also added 11 digs, while Hadjiyane tallied five kills and five block assists. Elsewhere for the Royals, senior Caileigh Cox (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) recorded 18 assists and freshman Maddie Forry (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) paced the defense with 17 digs.

Scranton 3, RIT 0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-19)

Freshman Deanna Whelpley (Congers, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Academy) notched three straight service aces and the Royals immediately opened up a 5-0 lead in the first set. RIT was able to eventually cut the lead to one at 13-12 before a 5-0 run including two more Whelpley service aces stretched the lead to 18-12 and Scranton cruised to the 25-15 victory in set one.

A 5-0 lead was once again the case in the second set and a kill by sophomore Erin Keaveney (Collegeville, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) extended the lead to 11-4 in the early going. The Tigers were unable to get any closer than five the rest of the way as the Royals picked up a 25-16 win to take a two set lead. In the late stages of the set, fellow sophomore Catherine O'Sullivan (Port Washington, N.Y./Paul D. Schreiber) notched a kill and a service ace to help seal the win.

The third set was deadlocked at nine apiece when O'Sullivan came through with a kill to ignite a five point run, which led to a 14-9 lead. The Tigers did not draw any closer than four through the remainder of the set and consecutive kills from Whelpley and classmate Kate Rutowski (Park Ridge, N.J./Park Ridge) completed the sweep for the Royals.

Four different players tallied five or more kills for Scranton led by six apiece from Vitkus and Whelpley and Vitkus also chipped in with seven digs. Cox helped set up the attack with 15 assists and sophomore Gianna Detorie (Rumford, R.I./Bishop Feehan) added five assists, two service aces and three digs.

Forry led the way with 10 digs and recorded three service aces of her own in the victory.

The Royals host Rowan and Messiah on Saturday at the Electric City Invitational with the matches slated for 1 and 5 p.m.

--ROYALS--