WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore Nora Ryan (Sutton, Mass.) and junior Emilee Flanagan (Milton, N.H.) combined for 36 kills and 11 blocks to lead the Plymouth State University women's volleyball team to a pair of wins over Worcester State University in the Panthers' season opener at John P. Brissette Court on Saturday.
 
The duo each pounded down a dozen kills with Flanagan posting five blocks and Ryan adding three as PSU took the opener, 3-1, by scores of 25-19, 25-15, 24-26 and 25-15.
 
Flanagan added another seven kills without an error in the nightcap, while Ryan chipped in with five kills and three blocks as the offense rolled to a 3-0 sweep (25-13, 25-16, 25-9) in the day's second contest.
 
Plymouth State moves to 2-0 to open the season, while Worcester State falls to 0-3.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 3, Worcester State 1
• Plymouth State 3, Worcester State 0
  • Plymouth State (2-0)
  • Worcester State (0-3)

How it Happened (Match One):

• Plymouth State used a 9-2 spurt to rally from a three-point deficit for a 15-11 lead in set one, aided by six Lancers' errors. Flanagan's kill wrapped up a 25-19 win.
• The second set remained close until a kill from senior Alexa Price (Moultonborough, N.H.) sparked a 9-1 surge as the Panthers went ahead 21-12. Back-to-back kills from Ryan closed out the 25-15 victory.
• Undeterred, Worcester State staved off PSU's match-point opportunity to slip past the Panthers, 26-24, in the third set.
• Price ripped off three straight aces in set four to help build a 12-8 advantage and the Panthers would never look back, closing out the match with a 25-15 win.

By the Numbers (Match One):

• PSU hit .393 in the fourth set, committing just one attack error in the frame, and outhit the Lancers by a .226 to .048 margin for the match.
• Flanagan and Ryan each notched 12 kills, with freshman Lilli Stogner (Weare, N.H.) adding eight in her collegiate debut.
• Price finished with six aces to go with her match-high 48 assists, while freshman Imalay Rodriguez Martinez (Juncos, Puerto Rico) and junior Marissa Plaza (Folsom, Calif.) paced the defense with 11 digs apiece.

 
How it Happened (Match Two):

• Plymouth State carried the momentum into the day's second match, hitting .345 in the opener. A Flanagan kill and WSU error pushed the Panthers' advantage to 15-5 and Ryan and sophomore Elsa MacNeill (Acton, Mass.) combined for a block to earn the 25-13 win.
• Worcester State raced out to a 5-0 lead in set two, but Plymouth State chipped away and Stogner's kill evened things at 12-12. After an error, Stogner followed with back-to-back winners to spark a 9-0 surge as PSU seized control and wrapped up a 25-16 win.
• The Panthers used a 16-1 spurt to run away with the final set, 25-9.

By the Numbers (Match Two):

• PSU notched double-digit kills in each set, highlighted by 14 in the middle stanza. The Panthers hit .271 for the match, including an impressive .368 in the final set.
• Flanagan had seven kills without an error, while Stogner added six kills.
• Price fired off another five aces and posted 32 assists, while MacNeill and Ryan recorded three blocks each.

 
Up Next:

• PSU opens its home schedule on Wednesday (Sept. 8) with a 6:00 p.m. contest against Eastern Nazarene College at Foley Gymnasium. Spectators are required to wear masks indoors.