Buena Vista, Va. – The St. Mary's College of Maryland volleyball team was swept for just the second time this season as the Seahawks (13-3) dropped a 3-0 decision to Capital Athletic Conference newcomer, Southern Virginia University, Thursday night. The Knights posted set scores of 28-26, 25-13, 27-25.

Tonight's match is considered a non-conference match as Southern Virginia (5-3) will play a full CAC schedule, but its matches will not count in the conference standings and the Knights are not eligible to qualify for the CAC playoffs until the 2014 season.

The first set witnessed seven tied scores as well as seven lead changes. Sophomore Shannon Romito (Walker, La.) won the first set for the Knights as Romito threw down a kill to knot the set up at 26-26 and then served consecutive aces for the two-point first set victory.

It was all Southern Virginia in the second set as the Knights opened up with a 5-0 run and never looked back. St. Mary's pulled within 14-12 on a kill by sophomore middle blocker Mandy Goodspeed (Columbia, Md./Atholton) but Southern Virginia closed out the set on an 11-1 run for the 2-0 lead in the match.

The third and final set was just as competitive as the first with 13 tied scores and seven lead changes. After a St. Mary's timeout, an attacking error by Southern Virginia made it a 25-25 draw but back-to-back kills by senior middle blocker Tori Tuttle (Anahola, Hawaii) and Romito sealed the match victory the Knights.

Goodspeed was the offensive leader for the Seahawks as she contributed 11.5 points on eight kills and five total blocks (two solo). Senior captain Michelle Klima (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) added nine points on five kills, three service aces and two block assists.

On the defensive side of the ball, first-year Carissa Hill (Lanham, Md./Pallotti) put up a match-best 18 digs.

The Seahawks will host a tri-match on Saturday, October 5th as part of the Hawktoberfest at Family Weekend festivities. St. Mary's will face another CAC newcomer in Penn State Harrisburg at 1:00 pm before taking on Virginia Wesleyan College in a non-conference match at 5:00 pm. Harrisburg and Virginia Wesleyan will face each other at 3:00 pm.

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