PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Lilli Stogner (Weare, N.H.) smashed 13 kills and hit .333 as Plymouth State University dispatched Saint Joseph's College of Maine, 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 27-25) to run its winning streak to five straight in non-conference volleyball action at Foley Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
The Panthers led the first two sets wire-to-wire, racing out to a 10-1 lead in the opener and using a 12-5 run late in set two to go up 2-0. St. Joe's attempted to rally in the third set, using a late spurt to tie things at 23-23. The Monks staved off a pair of match points, but Stogner and senior
Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) ripped back-to-back kills to close out the match.
Plymouth State jumps to 7-2, while St. Joe's moves to 5-6.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, St. Joe's 0
- Plymouth State (7-2)
- St. Joe's (5-6)
How it Happened:
- There was little drama in the opening set as Stogner slammed three early kills to set the tone and junior Makayla Marucci (Newton, Mass.) and sophomore Kalista Butler (Philipsburg, Pa.) used long service runs to build a 10-1 lead. PSU never slowed down, maintaining a comfortable lead the rest of the way. Stogner's fifth kill of the opening set gave Plymouth State set point and freshman Emma Hampton (Durham, N.H.) found the floor on the next point for a 25-14 win.
- The Panthers played from the front the entirety of set two as well, though St. Joe's hung close through the middle portion. Stogner jumpstarted things and junior Lindsey Sanderson (Gilford, N.H.) had three kills early as PSU held a 12-10 lead. The Monks got as close as 13-12, but Plymouth State's defense turned it on from there, keeping the ball off the floor, controlling net play, and forcing the visitors into several attack errors as the advantage grew to 21-15. Sanderson closed out the 25-17 win with an impressive kill.
- St. Joe's took its first lead of the night on the first point of set three, though Sanderson and Stogner followed with back-to-back kills. Things stayed close, until sophomore Riley McDonough (Gilford, N.H.) ran off four straight at the service line for a 12-7 advantage. PSU held the lead, though the Monks used a late spurt to pull within 21-20 before knotting the score at 23-23 on a service ace. Plymouth State came right back as a Stogner kill gave the hosts match point, but St. Joe's stayed alive twice to force extra points. With the score deadlocked at 25-25, emphatic kills from Stogner and Ryan closed out the 27-25 win and the sweep.
By the Numbers:
- Stogner finished with a match-best 13 kills and added 10 digs for her first double-double of the season. She hit an impressive .333 for the match.
- Sanderson posted eight kills and also hit .333, while Hampton and senior Ryley McNeeley (Easton, Mass.) chipped in five kills apiece.
- McDonough and Butler split the setting duties, combining for 36 assists.
- Marucci led all players with 15 digs.
- PSU held the Monks to negative attack percentages in each of the first two sets, and just .020 for the match.
- Plymouth State has dominated the all-time matchup, winning 20 of 22 meetings between the two teams.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State opens the Little East Conference (LEC) slate with a trip to UMass Boston on Saturday (Sept. 23). First serve is set for noon at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium.
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