Women's Volleyball 9/2/2016 12:00:00 AM

Seahawk Volleyball Wins Twice at Virginia Wesleyan

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

For Immediate Release · nmoran@smcm.edu

Virginia Beach, Va. – The St. Mary's College of Maryland volleyball team captured their first wins of the 2016 campaign Friday on the first day of the Virginia Wesleyan College Tournament at Batten Center. St. Mary's claimed a four-set win over host Virginia Wesleyan (25-23, 19-25, 25-14, 25-21) and swept Mount Aloysius College (25-11, 25-10, 25-23).

St. Mary's (Md.) 3, Virginia Wesleyan 1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-14, 25-21)

How It Happened

Down 23-22 in the first set, consecutive kills by senior outside hitter Alli Graf (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) and one from sophomore outside hitter Meghan Kelley (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) sealed St. Mary's first set victory.
The Seahawks lead early on in the second set but VWC claimed seven of the next eight points to run away with the set. Senior outside hitter Tiffany Barrett (Stafford, Va./North Stafford) paced the Marlins with six kills and two digs.
St. Mary's cruised in the third set as the Seahawks never trailed and built an 11-point lead twice. Sophomore middle blocker Hannah Krauss (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) lead the charge with four kills and one block assist.
After trailing 1-0 to start off the fourth and final set, the Seahawks took over and never looked back, winning three of the last four point to clinch their first win of the season.

For The Seahawks (1-1)

Senior Mimi Graf (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) (30 assists, 16 digs); A. Graf (team-best 14 kills, team- and season-best 19 digs, 6 assists, 3 block assists); Kelley (13 kills, career-bests of 8 digs and 4 service aces); Senior Carissa Hill (Lanham, Md./Pallotti) (18 digs, season-best 6 assists, career-bests of 3 kills and 2 block assists); Senior Meghan Griffiths (La Plata. Md./La Plata) (career-bests of 18 digs and 4 kills).
St. Mary's hit .157 in the match, including .300 in the third set, and had six blocks as a team plus seven service aces.

For Virginia Wesleyan (1-1)

Emilee Pierson (match-best 41 assists, 12 digs, 3 kills); Amber Matalus (10 kills, 5 digs); Barrett (14 kills, match-best 21 digs, 2 assists); Allison Mackley (18 digs, 3 assists); Alyssa Taylor (17 digs); Colleen Smith (14 digs, 2 kills).
The Marlins posted a .132 hitting percentage in the contest, collected four team blocks, and two aces.

St. Mary's (Md.) 3, Mount Aloysius 0 (25-11, 25-10, 25-23)

How It Happened

The Seahawks opened up the match with a 5-0 run and then won 20 of the next 31 points. Sophomore setter Marina Bell (Derwood, Md./Magruder) ended the set with a kill from M. Graf.
It was more of the same in the second set. After surrendering the first point of the second set, St. Mary's claimed 10 of the next 11 points, including eight straight, to stake a 10-2 lead on a Krauss service ace. Kelley ended the set with a kill from M. Graf.
Trailing 15-10 following a kill by senior outside hitter Lindsey Mercer (Altoona, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) for Mount Aloysius, the Seahawks closed out the set and match on a 15-8 run to put together a two-match win streak.

For The Seahawks (2-1)

M. Graf (match-best 19 assists, match- and season-best 19 digs, 7 kills); Griffiths (15 digs, season-best 3 service aces, 2 kills); Bell (career-bests of 10 assists, 7 digs, 3 kills); Kelley (match-best 9 kills, 3 digs).
The Seahawks tallied a season-best .224 attack percentage for the match, six team blocks, and six service aces.

For Mount Aloysius (0-2)

Elizabeth Yacobucci (team-best 8 kills, 4 digs); Katie Reed (team-best 12 assists, 5 digs); Mercer (15 digs, 5 kills); Alyssa Walters (13 digs); Brenna Wright (match-best 19 digs).
The Mounties finished the match hitting -.008, notching three team blocks, and serving up three aces.

Notes

M. Graf registered her 41st career double-double in the win over Mount Aloysius.
A. Graf picked up her second double-double of the season, and 13th of her two-year Seahawk career, in the win over Virginia Wesleyan.
St. Mary's has now won three straight matches against Virginia Wesleyan.
Tonight's match with Mount Aloysius was the first since the two sides met in 2002 and the Mounties came away with a four-set victory.

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