PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Lilli Stogner (Weare, N.H.) pounded 16 kills as Plymouth State University knocked off Rhode Island College, 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-23), in Little East Conference (LEC) women's volleyball action at The Murray Center on Saturday.
The Panthers used a late 13-4 surge to run away from RIC in the opening set. Set two followed a similar script as the game stayed close in the first third. Stogner had a pair of kills to spark a 9-2 spurt as PSU pulled away, 16-9, and the Panthers would coast to a comfortable 25-15 win. The third set was the most competitive of the day as the Anchorwomen kept pace with PSU through much of the game. Trailing 24-20, RIC pushed for three straight points, but a service error giftwrapped the Panthers' sweep.
Plymouth State improves to 15-1 (2-0 LEC), while RIC drops to 9-3 (0-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, RIC 0
- Plymouth State (15-1, 2-0 LEC)
- RIC (9-3, 0-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State held a two-point advantage, 12-10, but the Panthers took advantage of a missed serve to gain some separation. Sophomore Emma Hampton (Durham, N.H.) followed with a long service run as the lead ballooned to 18-11 and Stogner slammed three kills in the final eight points for the 25-14 victory.
- Stogner and senior Lindsey Sanderson (Gilford, N.H.) combined for four straight kills to snap a 7-7 tie in set two. Another Stogner kill, followed by an ace, helped the Panthers extend the lead to 14-8 and PSU stayed comfortably in front the rest of the way. Stogner finished the set strong, pounding three more kills in the last seven points, including the set-winner, as PSU went up 2-0 with a 25-15 victory.
- Plymouth State grabbed small leads throughout the first half of set three, but each time the Anchorwomen would battle right back. Freshman Danielle Emerson (Biddeford, Maine) served back-to-back aces to help PSU push ahead, 16-10, but RIC would stay close to pull within two, 22-20. Graduate student Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) slammed a kill and a RIC error gave the Panthers match point. Though the hosts tried to extend the match with a late run, a missed serve gave PSU a 25-23 win.
By the Numbers:
- Stogner matched a season high with 16 kills. She hit .303 and added eight digs to her stat line.
- Ryan notched ten kills (.368 attack percentage) with five digs, while Hampton continued her excellent play after recording eight kills without an error (.615 attack percentage).
- Emerson posted a match-high 18 assists, while senior Riley McDonough (Gilford, N.H.) added 17 assists and 12 digs.
- Senior Makayla Marucci (Newton, Mass.) led all players with 23 digs.
- Plymouth State improved to 27-8 against the Anchorwomen. The Panthers have won each of the last six meetings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State stays in league play on Wednesday (Oct. 9) when Southern Maine comes to Foley Gymnasium for a 5:00 p.m. contest. The game will serve as the team's Dig Pink breast cancer awareness game.
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