BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Saint Anselm College women's volleyball team dropped two non-conference matches Friday on the opening day of the King Classic, hosted by King University at the Student Center Complex. The Hawks battled Winston-Salem State University to a 30-28 opening-set decision before falling to the Rams, 3-0, and later dropped a 3-0 decision to Newberry College in their second match of the day.
Winston-Salem State 3, Saint Anselm 0 (30-28, 25-15, 25-19)
Highlights
- Saint Anselm drops to 0-2 all-time against Winston-Salem, having played the Rams in back-to-back seasons in neutral-site matchups.
- Senior Sam Pila led the Hawks with 11 kills and 12.0 points against Winston-Salem State, while adding 15 digs and one service ace.
- Sophomore Etta Rocco contributed nine kills on a .353 hitting percentage while recording two solo blocks and two block assists.
- Sophomore Mckenna O'Connell directed the Saint Anselm offense with 29 assists while adding nine digs and two service aces.
- Senior Madeline Burke paced the Hawks defensively with 22 digs.
How it Happened
SET 1 | Winston-Salem State opened with a 3-0 lead and later held a 4-2 advantage before extending the margin to 10-4. Saint Anselm responded with a 9-0 run to erase the deficit and tie the set at 13-13, then took a 15-14 lead before the teams traded points all the way to 28-28. The Rams scored the final two points to take the marathon opener, 30-28.
SET 2 | Saint Anselm jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but Winston-Salem State answered with a 5-0 run and later built a 10-5 advantage. The Hawks battled back to pull within one at 10-9, but the Rams used a 6-1 run to build a 16-10 lead and maintained control down the stretch, closing the set, 25-15.
SET 3 | Winston-Salem State scored the first five points of the frame before Saint Anselm answered with three straight, and the Hawks later pulled within 8-7. Saint Anselm tied the set at 13-13 after a 5-0 run that included two O'Connell service aces, but the Rams scored seven of the next eight points to take a 20-14 lead. The Hawks pulled within 23-19 late, but Winston-Salem State scored the final two points to complete the sweep with a 25-19 win.
Newberry 3, Saint Anselm 0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-16)
Highlights
- The Hawks are now 0-1 all-time against Newberry as this was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
- Pila added 10 kills and 11.0 points against Newberry while recording 10 digs and a service ace.
- Burke led Saint Anselm with 23 digs in the second match of the day.
- O'Connell totaled 16 assists, nine digs and two service aces against the Wolves.
How it Happened
SET 1 | Newberry took a 5-4 lead and gradually extended its advantage to 9-6 before Saint Anselm pulled within one at 10-9. The Wolves responded with a 6-1 run to make it 16-10 and then closed the set on a 5-0 run for a 25-13 victory.
SET 2 | Saint Anselm and Newberry traded points through the early stages, with the Hawks holding a 6-5 lead before Newberry moved ahead 9-7. The Hawks tied the set at 9-9, but the Wolves answered with five straight points to take a 14-9 advantage and maintained control from there, closing the frame, 25-17.
SET 3 | Newberry opened with a 2-0 lead, but Saint Anselm stayed within one at 3-2 before the Wolves gradually built an 8-6 advantage. Newberry then scored four of the next five points to move ahead 12-9 and extended the lead to 16-12, with the Hawks unable to mount a late comeback. The Wolves closed the match by scoring five of the final seven points, winning the set, 25-16.
Up Next
Saint Anselm women's volleyball (2-2, 0-0 NE10) continues action on the second and final day of the King Classic tomorrow, facing Emory & Henry at noon before taking on host King University at 3 p.m. at the King Student Center Complex.
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