SCRANTON, Pa. – The University of Scranton volleyball team (1-2) split a pair of matches with Smith (0-3) and New Paltz (2-1) on day two of the Scranton Invitational on Saturday at the John Long Center in Scranton.
The Royals opened the day with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Smith before dropping a 3-1 decision to New Paltz in the nightcap.
Scranton 3, Smith 2 (25-21, 25-20, 16-25, 23-25, 16-14)
In the first set, the two teams traded points for much of the early stages before Scranton took seven out of eight points and consecutive kills by juniors Sophia Hadjiyane (Huntington, N.Y./John Glenn) and Erin Keaveney (Collegeville, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) opened up a 16-11 lead. Smith then battled back to cut the lead to three on a few different occasions, but a Hadjiyane kill eventually closed out the 25-21 victory.
Smith grabbed an early 8-3 lead in the second set before the Royals began to rally and senior Stephanie Margolies (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) delivered consecutive service aces to even things at 10 apiece. The service aces came as part of seven straight points for the hosts and a 14-10 lead. From there, the Pioneers sliced the lead to two at 17-15, but Scranton once again answered with the next three points and were able to hold on for the 25-20 win to take a two-set lead.
After a Keaveney kill cut the Smith lead to 15-13 in the third set, the Pioneers took seven of the next eight points and went on to capture a 25-16 victory. A Pioneers' attack error brought the Royals within one at 11-10 in the fourth set and the teams traded punches for much of the set including a 23-all deadlock, but Smith then took the final two points to force a decisive fifth set.
During that afore-mentioned fifth set, Smith took control early with a 9-5 lead before Scranton fought back and cut the lead to 13-11 on a kill from sophomore Deanna Whelpley (Congers, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Academy). The Pioneers played for match point after taking a 14-11 lead, but the Royals registered the final five points and the duo of Hadjiyane and Keaveney teamed up for a block assist to seal a 16-14 win.
Whelpley paced the Royals with 13 kills in the victory and also added nine digs, while Hadjiyane added 10 kills of her own. Freshman Cammi Quirk (Oakland, N.J./Ridgewood) helped set up the attack with 23 assists in the match.
Sophomore Camryn Hoffman (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) led the way defensively with a career-high 22 digs.
Sarah Dankovich had 21 kills to lead Smith.
New Paltz 3, Scranton 1 (21-25, 15-25, 27-25, 21-25)
The Hawks scored the first five points of the match, but Scranton fought back and took three straight points to even things at 13 apiece after an attack error. New Paltz then tallied four of the next five points and opened up an 18-14 lead en route to the 25-21 win.
In the second set, New Paltz once again raced out to an early edge and held a 13-4 lead at one point. Despite several comeback efforts by the Royals, the visitors closed out a 25-15 victory to take a two-set lead.
Scranton trailed 13-6 in the third set when a Hawks' service error set the tone for nine straight points by the Royals and a 15-13 lead. New Paltz responded to take a 21-18 lead, but the Royals would not go away and Margolies closed things out with a kill in the 27-25 win.
The Hawks led 15-9 in the fourth set and the Royals cut the lead to two at 16-14, 19-17 and 23-21, but were unable to get any closer as the visitors closed out the match with a 25-21 victory.
Keaveney recorded 10 kills and Whelpley added eight of her own for Scranton, while junior Gianna Detorie (Rumford, R.I./Bishop Feehan) notched 18 assists and nine digs.
Sophomore Maddie Forry (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) led the Royals with 22 digs and tallied seven assists to go along with two kills, three service aces and four block solos by Hadjiyane.
The Royals return to action on Friday evening at Stevenson with first serve slated for 6 p.m.
--ROYALS--
