VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Senior
Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) pounded down 19 kills to help the Plymouth State University women's volleyball team win a pair of matches at the Virginia Wesleyan Invitational at TowneBank Arena on Friday evening.
Ryan smashed 12 kills and added three blocks as the Panthers held off Neumann University, 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 25-22) in the first match of the day, then chipped in another seven kills while hitting a sparking .500 in a 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-18) sweep of Bard College in the nightcap.
Plymouth State wins its season opener for the seventh straight year to move to 2-0 on the season. Neumann moves to 0-1, while Bard finishes the day at 0-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Neumann 1
- Plymouth State 3, Bard 0
- Plymouth State (2-0)
- Neumann (0-1)
- Bard (0-2)
How it Happened (Neumann):
- The Panthers took advantage of three Neumann errors and kills from Ryan, junior Lilli Stogner (Weare, N.H.) and an ace from junior Makayla Marucci (Newton, Mass.) to take a 9-3 lead in the opening set. PSU maintained the advantage, pushing the margin to 18-10 on a Stogner kill. The Knights used three straight points late in the frame to cut into the lead, but another error gave the Panthers a 25-18 victory.
- Marucci opened the second set with a pair of aces for a quick 5-1 advantage, but Neumann used a 5-1 spurt to go ahead, 10-8. The Knights carried a small lead through the middle portion of the set before knotting the score at 19-19 on a solo block from sophomore Abigale Bassingthwaite (Plymouth, N.H.). Neumann responded with four of the next five points, though, and a kill closed out the 25-22 win.
- Freshman Emma Hampton (Durham, N.H.) served PSU to a 7-1 lead behind three early kills from junior Lindsey Sanderson (Gilford, N.H.). PSU led 16-8, but the Knights scored five straight to close the gap. The Panthers were able to keep a slight advantage the rest of the way, though, pulling out the 25-20 win with three straight points.
- Stogner went to the service line with a narrow 8-6 lead but ripped off five aces during a six-point run to make it 14-6. The Knights closed the margin to just one point on two separate occasions, including 23-22, but senior Ryley McNeeley (Easton, Mass.) and Bassingthwaite notched consecutive kills to close out the 25-22 win.
By the Numbers (Neumann):
- Ryan finished with 12 kills and three blocks. Stogner posted eight kills and five aces, with McNeeley adding seven kills.
- Marucci had a match-high 18 digs and added three aces, while Hampton posted 12 digs.
- Sophomores Riley McDonough (Gilford, N.H.) and Kalista Butler (Philipsburg, Pa.) split the setting duties, combining for 29 assists.
- The meeting was the first between the two programs.
How it Happened (Bard):
- Sanderson ripped off four aces during a six-point run as PSU took a 10-5 lead early in the opening set. A kill from senior Aynslee King (Annacortes, Wash.) pushed the lead to double-digits, 18-8, and a Bard error gave the Panthers a 25-11 win.
- The Raptors trailed by just one, 12-11, before PSU used a 6-1 surge to take control. Ryan and Stogner found the floor around an ace from junior Ava Duymazlar (Plymouth, N.H.) to make it 24-15 and Stogner's kill closed out the 25-17 win.
- Bard held a 10-8 advantage, before a service error and Ryan's ace squared the set at 10-10. Ryan continued the lengthy service run as PSU went ahead, 15-10. The teams traded errors and the Panthers extended the margin to 19-11. The Raptors attempted to chip into the lead, but freshman Annalyn Cahill (Mystic, Conn.) thwarted the comeback attempt with a kill as PSU held on for a 25-18 victory to complete the sweep.
By the Numbers (Bard):
- The Panthers combined for 18 aces, with Sanderson (four), Ryan (three) and McDonough (three) leading the charge.
- Stogner's eight kills were a match-high, while Ryan added seven.
- Junior Morgan Drinkwater (Steep Falls, Maine) hit .556 for the match after posting five kills without an error.
- McDonough recorded 22 assists in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Up Next:
- The tournament concludes on Saturday (Sept. 2) as PSU faces Bridgewater College (Va.) and the host Marlins at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectfully.
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