Box Score

Arlington, Va. – Behind career performances from outside hitters Shannon Fitzpatrick (Germantown, Md./St. John's College [Md.]) and Michelle Klima (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial), the St. Mary's College of Maryland volleyball team evened up their Capital Athletic Conference record with a 3-2 triumph over Marymount (Va.) University Wednesday night.

Klima posted a team-high 17 kills while Fitzpatrick put up career-bests of 16 kills and 11 digs in leading the Seahawks (7-4, 1-1 CAC) to their third straight victory and first league win of 2010.

St. Mary's never trailed in the fifth and deciding set, never allowing the host Saints (4-8, 0-2 CAC) to take the lead even when Marymount equalized at two points.  The home team pulled within 10-9 but back-to-back Seahawk blocks and a Saint attacking error gave St. Mary's a four-point (13-9) cushion.  Senior outside hitter Claire Kodan (Olney, Md./Sherwood) sealed the match win for the visitors with back-to-back points on a kill and service ace.

Kodan registered her second consecutive double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs while serving up three aces.  Senior setter Katie Obal (Olney, Md./Sherwood) picked up her first double-double of the year on 45 assists and 14 digs while adding three block assists.  Sophomore Cecilia Blanc (Gaithersburg, Md./Poolesville) contributed to the win with five aces and nine digs.

The first set featured eight tied scores and two lead changes but Marymount claimed it, 25-18, as sophomore outside hitter Michelle McCormick (Charlotte Hall, Md.) notched five kills and an ace.

The second set went to St. Mary's, 26-24, as the Seahawks broke a 3-3 draw with a 9-1 run before Marymount came back to knot the set three more times.  Fitzpatrick and Klima collected back-to-back kills to break the 24-24 tie and even up the match at one set apiece.

The Saints took a 2-1 lead after capturing the third set, 25-23.  St. Mary's overcame a 20-14 deficit with two kills each from Fitzpatrick and Klima to knot the game at 21-all while another Fitzpatrick kill made it 23-23.  McCormick and first-year outside hitter Johanna Hummel (Nokesville, Va.) tallied the set ending kills.

St. Mary's came right back in the fourth set, basically dominating from start to finish and recording a 25-20 victory.  The visitors jumped out to a 12-7 advantage before the Saints battled back to a 17-17 draw.  Following a timeout, the Seahawks regrouped and closed out the set on an 8-3 run which included two aces by Blanc and two kills by Kodan.

Defensively for the Seahawks, first-year libero Bianca Livioco (Montgomery Village, Md./Gaithersburg) tallied 11 digs while fellow classmate Jenna Campbell (Brookeville, Md./Good Counsel) chipped in 10.

The Seahawks return to action this weekend at the two-day Spartan Best Western Westgate Invitational hosted by York (Pa.) College on Friday and Saturday.  St. Mary's will take on Virginia Wesleyan College at 5:00 pm followed by Rowan University at 7:00 pm on Friday.