MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College volleyball team opens up a three-game stretch away from the Hilltop on Friday, Sept. 17 against Assumption. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.

SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE HAWKS (7-2, 0-0 NE10)
Roster | Schedule and Results | 2021 Statistics | News

ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY GREYHOUNDS (2-2, 0-0 NE10)
Roster | Schedule and Results | 2021 Statistics | News

The Hawks earned a 3-0 win over Mercy on Tuesday night. Saint Anselm rallied from down as many as six in the opening set. The Mavericks were on set point at 24-20 and the Hawks managed to push the set into extra points and eventually won, 36-34. They would go on to win the match in straight-sets after the thrilling set one win.

The Greyhounds have split two tri-matches to open their season. Assumption lost to Bridgeport and defeated Holy Family on Saturday, Sept. 4, both by 3-1 scores. The following weekend, the Greyhounds played Northeast-10 Conference opponents Southern New Hampshire and Stonehill, notching a 3-1 win over the Penmen and losing in straight sets to the Skyhawks.

This match will be counted as a non-conference meeting between Saint Anselm and Assumption.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS

• In Tuesday's match, the Hawks were led by sophomore Audrey Wetjen (Henderson, Nev.) with nine kills. The NE10 Conference Player of the Week, junior Lauren Casey (Jefferson City, Mo.), sophomore Audrey Simmons (North Hampton, N.H.), and freshman Gabby Belcher (Buckeye, Ariz.) all aided the offense with at least seven kills.
• Simmons and Casey are the top-two hitters for the Hawks, totaling 85 and 82 kills each. Both are averaging 3.04 kills per set.
• Saint Anselm leads the conference in hitting percentage at .251 and ranks 26th nationally.
• The NE10 Conference Setter of the Week, junior Michelle Henwood (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), picked up right where she left off, registering 37 assists. For the season, she has 299 assists, averaging 10.31 per set. The co-captain ranks 32nd in Division II and second in the conference.
• The Hawks average 12.76 assists per set, which is 20th in Division II.
• Junior Caroline Belmontez (San Diego, Calif.) has eclipsed the 100 dig-mark for the season after leading the Hawks with 17 in Tuesday's win. She now has 112 total digs, averaging 3.86 per set.
• Sophomore Kaitlin Brown (Glendale, Ariz.) leads the conference with 20 service aces on the season. She improved her per set average to .69 after adding three to her total against Mercy. She ranks 22nd in Division II in aces set and ninth in total service aces.
• The Hawks have 74 service aces on the season, averaging 2.55 per set, which ranks eighth nationally. They are ninth in Division II in aces per set.
• Wetjen leads the Hawks with 21 total blocks, nine solo and 12 assisted.
• Saint Anselm leads the NE10 in aces per set (2.55), assists per set (12.76), hitting percentage (.251), kills per set (13.62), match win-loss (.778), and team service aces (74).

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS

• In their last match, Assumption fell to Stonehill in straight sets. Carly Goodhue led the team with eight kills and Alexis Distasio registered seven. Belden posted 22 assists. Brandi Montoya and Kyra Belden had double digit digs to lead the defense.
• Distasio leads the Greyhounds offense with 54 kills. She is averaging 3.64 kills per set, which ranks second in the NE10. Goodhue has added 42 kills on 128 swings.
• Belden has 143 assists through 15 sets this season, averaging 9.53 per set. She threw up a career-high 49 assists in the 3-1 win over Holy Family.
• Leading the defense is Barbara Illig. She is averaging 3.80 digs per set and has totaled 57 digs.
• Montoya ranks second on the team in digs with 44.
• Alana Hruska and Ruthie Ridderhoff are tied for the team lead with 11 blocks.
• The team has registered 24 service aces. Belden leads the way with eight.
• Assumption ranks fourth in the NE10, hitting at a .205 percentage.

ALL-TIME vs. ASSUMPTION

• This will be the 51st meeting all-time between the Hawks and Greyhounds. The Hawks lead the all-time series, 30-20.
• The Hawks won the last match on Oct. 29, 2019 in Worcester, Mass. The Hawks earned a straight-set victory.
• The last seven meetings have gone to Saint Anselm with combined set scores of 21-4.
• The longest win-streak was 10 matches, in favor of the Hawks from Nov. 2, 1995 to Sept. 7, 2001.
• In seven of the last nine seasons, the teams have met twice during the season. The trend is slated to extend to eight of the last 10 with the NE10 matchup coming later in the season.