PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) and freshman Lilli Stogner (Weare, N.H.) combined for 27 kills in the opener and senior Alexa Price (Moultonborough, N.H.) totaled 76 assists on the day as Plymouth State University ousted St. Michael's College, 3-1 (25-16, 25-10, 20-25, 25-18), and the University of New England, 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-11) in a non-conference women's volleyball trimatch at Foley Gymnasium on Saturday.
 
Ryan and Stogner were dominant in the win over NCAA Division II St. Michael's, with Ryan blasting a match-high 14 kills and Stogner totaling 13. PSU hit better than .300 in each of the three set wins and limited SMC to a .080 attack percentage for the match.
 
The Panthers relied on a balanced offensive effort in the sweep of UNE, with six players register four or more kills. The Plymouth State defense, anchored by the strong backrow play of junior Marissa Plaza (Folsom, Calif.) held the Nor'easters to a negative attack percentage (-.011).
 
Plymouth State (5-0) extends its season opening win streak to five matches. St. Michael's outlasted UNE, 3-1, in the day's other match to finish with a 1-2 record, while UNE moves to 2-4.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 3, St. Michael's 1
• Plymouth State 3, UNE 0
  • Plymouth State (5-0)
  • St. Michael's (1-2)
  • UNE (2-4)

How it Happened (St. Michael's):

• The opening set remained close in the early going until a Stogner kill and Ryan ace helped push the lead to 12-7 to force the Purple Knights into a timeout. The visitors weren't able to mount a rally, though, as Stogner tallied three kills in the final four points for a 25-16 win.
• Ryan notched a pair of kills around three straight SMC errors as the hosts jumped out to an early, 8-2 lead. Freshman Lindsey Sanderson (Gilford, N.H.) blasted a kill as the lead expanded to 19-8, and PSU ran away with a 25-10 win.
• St. Michael's didn't fold in the third set, using five straight points to break a 17-17 tie and ultimately forced a fourth set with a 25-20 win.
• Stogner's kill and an ace from freshman Imalay Rodriguez Martinez (Juncos, Puerto Rico) gave the hosts an 11-6 advantage, leading to an SMC timeout. PSU pushed the margin to 19-12, but the Purple Knights rallied to pull to within 21-18. Plymouth State regrouped during a timeout and a Stogner kill and back-to-back Ryan aces wrapped up the 25-18 win.

By the Numbers (St. Michael's):

• Plaza led the PSU defense with 26 digs, while Rodriguez Martinez added 17 and senior Hannah Douglas (Rochester, N.H.) tallied 14.
• Price dished out 49 assists and added 12 digs.
• Ryan hit .385 (14-4-26) and added four aces.
• PSU improved to 6-1 all-time against the Purple Knights.

 
How it Happened (UNE):

• The Panthers raced out to a 6-1 lead following freshman Makayla Marucci's (Newton, Mass.) ace. UNE rallied for a 13-12 advantage, but a kill from junior Emilee Flanagan (Milton, N.H.) sparked a 6-1 spurt and Price's ace sealed a 25-20 win.
• PSU held a narrow 17-15 advantage in set two until Ryan's smash kicked off an 8-1 run for a 25-16 victory.
• The third set was all Plymouth State as the hosts stormed out to an 8-2 lead. The Nor'easters attempted to get back into it trimming the deficit to 10-7, but a slew of UNE errors and multiple kills from freshman Morgan Drinkwater (Steep Falls, Maine) gave the hosts a comfortable 19-7 advantage and PSU would run away with a 25-11 decision.

By the Numbers (UNE):

• Flanagan led a balanced attack with seven kills. Ryan added six, while Price and Drinkwater each chipped in with five.
• Price added 26 assists and three aces, while Ryan had four aces. Flanagan controlled the net with four blocks.
• Plaza posted a match-high 14 digs.
• PSU hit .271 for the match while holding the Nor'easters to a -0.011 attack percentage.

 
 Up Next:

• The Panthers have a busy week with four matches scheduled. First up is a non-conference battle with NVU-Lyndon at Foley Gymnasium on Tuesday (Sept. 14). First serve is set for 6:00 p.m., while masks are required for all spectators.