SCRANTON, Pa. – The University of Scranton volleyball team (8-7) took the final four points of the first set to erase a 24-22 deficit and rolled to a 3-0 victory over the Misericordia Cougars (12-4) in a non-conference match on Tuesday night at the John Long Center in Scranton.

Scranton 3, Misericordia 0 (26-24, 25-18, 25-21)

Trailing 24-22 in the first set, a kill from sophomore Sophia Hadjiyane (Huntington, N.Y./John H. Glenn) ignited a four point run as junior Stephanie Margolies (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) followed with a kill of her own, Hadjiyane delivered a service ace and senior Abby Rzucidlo (Garnet Valley, Pa./Ursuline Academy) came through with the set clinching point with a solo block for the 26-24 win.

Earlier in the set, Scranton had recorded five straight points to take an 18-12 lead for the time being, but Misericordia rallied with six of the next seven and a kill from Meghan Peters evened things at 19 apiece. From there, the Royals held a 21-19 lead before the Cougars took five of the next six points for the afore-mentioned 24-22 advantage.

Holding a slight 9-8 lead in the second set, Scranton took the next six points including a trio of Margolies kills to open up a 15-8 edge. Misericordia battled back to within three points at 20-17, but a late kill and a service ace from Hadjiyane helped seal the 25-18 win in the second set.

The Cougars were able to open up an early 10-6 lead in the third and final set before the Royals put together a rally and eventually tied things at 14 following an attacking error by Peters. The two teams traded points for a majority of the remainder of the set and found themselves deadlocked at 21 when sophomore Erin Keaveney (Collegeville, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) came through with a kill and the Royals took the final four points to sweep the match.

Margolies led the hosts with 12 kills on the night, while Hadjiyane and Keaveney added eight apiece in the victory as Hadjiyane hit an impressive .438. Senior Caileigh Cox (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) and sophomore Gianna Detorie (Rumford, R.I./Bishop Feehan) combined to set up the attack for Scranton as Cox tallied 21 assists and Detorie came through with 13 of her own.

Defensively, senior Carah Vitkus (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) registered a match-high 18 digs and freshman Maddie Forry (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) came through with 14 of her own.

The Royals hit the road to face Johns Hopkins on Friday night in Baltimore with first serve slated for 6 p.m.

--ROYALS--