SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Saint Anselm College volleyball team gathered a pair of wins from Queens (N.Y.) College and Georgian Court University with match scores of 3-1 and 3-0, respectively, Saturday at the AIC Invitational, for the opening of its 2012 season.

The Hawks jump to an impressive 2-0 mark for the 2012 campaign with Queens and Georgian Court both falling to 0-2. This is the first time since 2003 that the Hawks have started the year at 2-0; it is the fourth time in program history, with 2-0 starts occuring in 1980, 1997 and 2003. No Saint Anselm volleyball team has even begun the year at 3-0.

In the afternoon's first match against Queens, Saint Anselm won the first two sets with scores of 25-12 and 25-22. The Knights battled back in the third to a set score of 25-20, but that would not be enough as Saint Anselm would then seal the deal in the fourth set, 25-15.

Natalie Steinwart (Aurora Ill.) led the Hawks with 36 assists and 10 digs, while junior Vivian Fitzgerald (Winfield Ill.) added 14 kills. Margaret Tereschuk (Mission Viejo, Cal.) helped the effort with 14 digs and four aces. 

The Hawks cruised to a 3-0 victory against the Lions of Georgian Court in the second match of the day, with set scores of 25-15, 25-20 and 25-13. 

Leading the way for the Hawks was Shannon Douglas (Rochester, N.H.), who chipped in 14 kills and four digs, with Steinwart posting 29 assists and five digs. Melissa Ouellet (Salem, N.H.) led all Hawks with a .667 hitting percentage against the Lions.   

The Hawks continue with play Sunday, Sept. 2 at the AIC Invitational, as they take on Concordia (N.Y.) at 1:30 p.m. and Bridgeport at 3:30 p.m. For more information on the Hawks and Saint Anselm Volleyball please visit our website at www.saintanselmhawks.com.