SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Saint Anselm College women's volleyball team wrapped up the IVHOF Division II East Region Clash on Saturday, Sept. 16 defeating Molloy University, 3-0, in the first match before falling in the final match of the tournament to American International College. The score against Molloy was 25-17, 25-19, 25-17. Saint Anselm fell to American International by set scores of 25-19, 25-21, 18-25, 19-25, 15-13. 
 
UP NEXT:

• The Hawks (7-4) travel to Assumption University on Tuesday, Sept. 19 for a non-conference tilt against the Greyhounds. The match is set for a 7:00 p.m. start time at the Andrew Laska Gymnasium. 

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Molloy)

• After senior Emma Adams (Gary, Texas) opened the scoring with a kill, Molloy jumped ahead to a 3-1 lead. Sophomore Abigail Macalaguim (Chula Vista, Calif.) tallied her first kill of the match to start an 8-3 run to put the Hawks up 9-6. Senior Audrey Wetjen (Henderson, Nev.) and senior Kaitlin Brown (Glendale, Ariz.) each recorded their second kill of the set to help further Saint Anselm's advantage to 13-7. After exchanging points, the Hawks connected five straight kills featuring three from Brown to help secure the first set victory by a final score of 25-17.
• The Hawks jumped ahead 4-2 in set two highlighted by a kill and ace from Brown followed by a kill by Adams and a service ace from fifth-year Caroline Belmontez (San Diego, Calif.). A kill from Roberta Monticelli tied the set at 5-5, but shortly after Saint Anselm pulled away thanks to a 6-0 run featuring back-to-back aces from Macalaguim to make it 13-7. The Lions fought back midway through the set and managed to cut the Hawk's advantage to one point following a kill from Chye Davis. Saint Anselm responded by stringing together the final five points of the set and taking the 25-19 win in set two.  
• A pair of kills from Brown and three aces by Macalaguim gave Saint Anselm a 5-0 lead to start the third set of the match. After the Lions responded with a 5-1 run to make 6-5, the Hawks generated an 8-2 run highlighted by two aces from senior Alina Barbarena (Los Angeles, Calif.) to put Saint Anselm ahead 14-7. Both teams exchanged points midway through the set until freshman Melis Kocak (East Greenwich, R.I.) registered her fourth kill of the game to make it 21-13. The Hawks cemented the 3-0 victory after winning the third set by a final score of 25-17.

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. American Int'l)

• The Yellow Jackets grabbed an early 7-1 lead started by four consecutive kills to open the scoring in the last match of the tournament. Freshman Hollyn Frano (Cave Creek, Ariz.) tallied her first kill of the match which kickstarted a 10-3 run for the Hawks to snag their first advantage of the game at 11-10. Both teams exchanged a few points midway through the set before American Int'l pulled away with a late 7-1 run to take the first set by a 25-19 final score.
• In the second set, Kocak and Adams helped give Saint Anselm a 3-1 advantage, but the Yellow Jackets quickly responded by going on a 10-1 run making it 11-4. Wetjen posted a couple of kills to disrupt the momentum of American Int'l. Saint Anselm was able to capitalize on attacking errors to keep the score close midway through the set. Frano and Brown each produced two kills apiece to help narrow the Yellow Jackets advantage to just three points. Junior Jada Burdier (Haverhill, Mass.) tallied a service ace late in the set for the Hawks, but American Int'l would go up 2-0 with the 25-21 set win.  
• The Hawks found themselves behind early after going down 4-1 in the third set. A 5-2 run from Saint Anselm tied the set at 6-6 highlighted by a block from Macalaguim and Wetjen. The Hawks continued to gain momentum as Adams teamed up with Kocak and Frano for back-to-back blocks to make it 13-9. Frano connected three straight aces to help extend Saint Anselm's led to six points. Four Hawks notched a kill in the final points of the third set to secure the 25-18 win.
• In the fourth set, Kocak registered a pair of early kills to put the Hawks up 4-1. After the Yellow Jackets evened the set at 6-6, Brown's kill started a 6-2 run for Saint Anselm featuring successive aces from Macalaguim. After Amber Williams cut the Hawk's lead to just one point with a kill, Saint Anselm answered with Frano tallying a kill and ace followed by a kill from Wetjen to extend their advantage to 19-14. Barbarena sealed the 25-19 fourth-set win with her service ace forcing the match into a fifth set.
• The Yellow Jackets jumped ahead with a 5-0 lead featuring two aces in a row from Alice Di Francesco. Saint Anselm rallied back with Frano posting a pair of kills while Kocak, Macalaguim, and Wetjen each tallied a kill apiece in a 5-2 run to make it 8-6. After American Int'l connected four consecutive points to extend their lead to  12-6, the Hawks went on a 7-1 run highlighted by five kills from Brown to tie the set at 13-13. American Int'l would secure the 3-2 victory after Dora Butkovic notched the final two kills of the match, winning the fifth set by a final score of 15-13.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Brown led the team after two matches with 29 total kills to go along with 17 digs, three assists, two aces, and a block.
• Kocak posted a season-high 12 kills against American Int'l.
• Macalaguim recorded a season-high in assists (46) and kills (6) versus the Yellow Jackets. The sophomore setter finished the final day of the tournament with 80 assists.
• On the defensive end, Barbarena tallied 28 digs while Belmontez ended with 24 digs for the Hawks.
• Brown, Macalaguim, and Wetjen earned All-Tournament Team recognition for their performance at the East Region Clash. 

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