MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College volleyball team posted a 3-0 win over Queen City Rival, Southern New Hampshire University, in a non-conference match on Tuesday evening.

The Hawks improve to 9-2 with the win while the Penmen fall to 4-4. Saint Anselm used set scores of 25-16, 25-10, and 25-21 to close out the match in straight sets.

This was the first meeting that counted toward the Queen City Cup, a measure of athletics success between Saint Anselm College and Southern New Hampshire University. With the win, the Hawks hold a 1-0 advantage.

Freshman Gabby Belcher (Buckeye, Ariz.) and junior Lauren Casey (Jefferson City, Mo.) led the Hawks offense with nine kills each. Junior Michelle Henwood (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) added 25 assists and 11 digs. Casey completed the double-double with a team-high 15 digs. Junior Caroline Belmontez (San Diego, Calif.) chipped in 12 digs for the Saint Anselm defense. Junior Lois Dogbe (Winchester, Calif.) and sophomore Audrey Wetjen (Henderson, Nev.) had four blocks each.

In the opening set, the Penmen held a 4-3 lead before the Hawks rattled of six of the next seven points forcing a timeout by the hosts. The Hawks run was aided by four Penmen attack errors. After managing the lead throughout the set, the Hawks posted six straight points to close out the opening frame. Wetjen added two kills in the final stretch.

The Hawks opened set two continuing their momentum from set one. Saint Anselm led 11-6 midway through the set and registered six of the next seven points. In that stretch, Dogbe had a kill and an assisted block. Saint Anselm closed the set with another run of the final six points. The Hawks had a pair of blocks on back-to-back plays before Belcher ended the set on a kill, giving the Hawks a 2-0 set lead.

Southern New Hampshire led 17-13 in the third set but five straight points turned the tides for the Hawks. A Penmen service error led to four consecutive kills sandwiched by a pair from sophomore Audrey Simmons (North Hampton, N.H.). Dogbe and Belcher joined in the run with kills of their own. A quick two points by the Penmen paved way for another five-point run for Saint Anselm, which would be enough to close out the match, 3-0.

The Hawks have one final non-conference tune-up on Thursday, Sept. 23 at Stonehill before opening Northeast-10 Conference play.