NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Saint Anselm College women's volleyball team picked up a victory on Friday during the Southern Connecticut State tri-match at Pelz Gymnasium. The Hawks defeated Dominican University (N.Y.), 3-1, in the first match before falling 3-0 to Southern Connecticut State in the final contest. The set scores against Dominican University were 25-16, 21-25, 25-9, 25-14. Southern Connecticut State won 25-20, 25-20, 25-19.
 
UP NEXT:

• The Hawks are back in action Saturday, September 9th traveling to Waterbury, Conn. for a tri-match hosted by Post University featuring the University of Bridgeport. Saint Anselm is set to play the Eagles at 12:30 p.m. followed by the Purple Knights at 3:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Dominican)

• Senior captain Kaitlin Brown (Glendale, Ariz.) opened the match with a kill off the assist from sophomore Abigail Macalaguim (Chula Vista, Calif.) to help the Hawks take an early 2-0. A kill by freshman Melis Kocak (East Greenwich, R.I.) followed by back-to-back service aces from fifth-year Caroline Belmontez (San Diego, Calif.) put Saint Anselm up 5-1. The Hawks extended their lead to 15-8 thanks to a pair of kills from Brown and one by Kocak midway through the set. After the Chargers generated a 5-0 run to make it 17-13, freshman Hollyn Frano (Cave Creek, Ariz.) tallied a kill to kickstart a 5-0 run for the Hawks. Frano's service ace sealed the first set for Saint Anselm by a final score of 25-16.  
• Both teams exchanged points early in the second set with Macalaguim scoring three of the first four points for the Hawks. Saint Anselm then went on a 7-2 run finished off by a service ace from freshman Madeline Burke (Lake George, N.Y.) to take a 12-6 lead. Macalaguim served three consecutive service aces during a 5-0 run to extend the Hawks advantage to 10 points. The Chargers responded by going on a 12-1 run to take back the lead. Frano disrupted the Chargers flow with her kill, but Dominican would tie the game at 1-1 winning the second set by a score of 25-21.  
• After being down 2-1 in the third set, Saint Anselm took an 8-3 lead thanks to a 7-1 run featuring a kill from senior captain Audrey Wetjen (Henderson, Nev.). Following a kill from Kaitlyn Carr, the Hawks would dominate the rest of the set tallying nine kills in a 17-4 run to win the set 25-9.
• A kill from Andreya Davis put the Chargers ahead 5-2 in the fourth set. Senior captain Alina Barbarena (Los Angeles, Callf.) regained the lead for Saint Anselm after registering a service ace to make 6-5. The Hawks built a 9-2 run highlighted by two services aces from junior Jada Burdier (Haverhill, Mass.) and a pair of kills from senior Emma Adams (Gary, Texas) to extend their lead to 15-7. Saint Anselm would control the remainder of the set, winning 25-14 to secure the 3-1 victory over the Chargers.

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Southern Conn. St.)

• After Brown tied the score at 2-2 with a kill, the Owls pulled away with a 5-0 run to take a 7-2 lead in the first set. Three consecutive kills from Kocak, Wetjen, and Frano helped Saint Anselm even the score at 8-8. After the Owls extended their lead to 15-10, the Hawks responded with a 7-2 run started by a kill from Brown and finished with a kill from Wetjen to tie the set at 17-17. Southern Conn. St. managed to win the first set, 25-20, and take the 1-0 advantage heading into set two.
• In the second set, a kill by Kocak gave the Hawks a quick 3-1 lead, but the Owls quickly responded with an 8-1 run to go ahead 9-4. Saint Anselm fought back with freshman Sam Pila (Melbourne, Australia) and Macalaguim earning back-to-back kills tying the set at 12-12. After the Owls generated another 8-1 run to lead by seven points, the Hawks couldn't catch up taking the 25-20 loss in the second set.
• Southern Conn. St. started the third set by winning the first nine consecutive points. Saint Anselm followed by connecting four points in a row to get on the board and make it 9-4. After Southern Conn. St. extended their lead to 16-8, the Hawks battled back narrowing the Owls advantage thanks to a service ace and kill from Kocak as well as an ace by Belmontez. However, the Hawks would end up falling 25-19 in the third set and take the 3-0 loss to the Owls.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Brown led the team in kills in both matches ending the day with 22 kills along with 17 digs, one service ace, an assist, and a solo block. Kocak finished with 13 kills followed by Frano with 11 kills.
• Macalaguim recorded a career-high six kills and 29 assists against Dominican for the Hawks.
• Three Hawks made their collegiate debuts tonight - freshman Emma Carolan (North Babylon, N.Y.), freshman Vivian Neyman (Winchester, Mass.), and Burke.

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