PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Graduate student
Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) and freshman
Cami Wessels (Plantsville, Conn.) combined for 17 kills as Plymouth State University dispatched Saint Joseph's College, 3-1 (25-11, 25-15, 22-25, 25-18), in non-conference women's volleyball action at the Harold Alfond Center on Tuesday night.
The Panthers wasted no time seizing control from the opening serve as PSU raced out to a 10-2 lead in set one before coasting to a 25-11 victory. Set two was slightly more competitive in the early going. PSU held a 10-7 advantage but used an 8-1 surge to create distance, ultimately rolling to a 25-15 win.
PSU lost its footing in the third set after struggling to run its offense. The Monks grabbed an 18-9 lead before Plymouth State got into a rhythm, cutting the margin down to two (23-21), but the hosts were able to stave off the rally to extend the match with a 25-22 win.
Plymouth State used a 6-1 run to snap a 7-7 tie in the fourth set and the Panthers would maintain the lead the rest of the way. St. Joe's cut the deficit to two (17-15), but a five-point run by the Panthers squashed any thoughts of a fifth set as PSU closed out the match with a 25-18 decision.
Plymouth State jumps to 9-0 on the year, while St. Joe's dips to 3-8.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, St. Joe's 1
- Plymouth State (9-0)
- St. Joe's (3-8)
How it Happened:
- Graduate student Aynslee King (Anacortes, Wash.) slammed home the game's first kill and Ryan had three kills in a five-point span as PSU raced out to a 10-2 lead. The Monks pulled to within six at 13-7, but Wessels found the floor to spark a five-point run and the Panthers were never challenged again en route to the 25-11 win.
- Plymouth State got out to another quick start to snag an early 6-2 lead. The Panthers continued to tack on as Ryan and senior Lindsey Sanderson (Gilford, N.H.) teamed up on a block and a slew of St. Joe's errors helped extend the margin to 18-9. Sanderson and junior Abigail Bassingthwaite (Plymouth, N.H.) wrapped up the 25-15 win with a set-ending block.
- PSU looked ready to sweep after scoring the first four points of set three, but the hosts rebounded to pull ahead. The Monks extended the lead to 20-11 before Plymouth State attempted to battle back. The Panthers were able to claw to within 23-21, but St. Joe's scored two of the final three points to extend the match with a 25-22 win.
- Wessels slammed home a kill to give PSU an early 6-3 lead in set four, but the Monks would rally to pull even at 7-7. Another Wessels winner sparked a 6-1 run to give the Panthers the lead for good. The hosts wouldn't go quietly, pulling within 17-15, but King had a pair of kills during a 5-0 spurt to put the game out of reach as PSU would wrap up the victory with a 25-18 decision.
By the Numbers:
- Ryan led all players with nine kills, while Wessels added eight kills and hit .400.
- Freshman Danielle Emerson (Biddeford, Maine) posted a match-high 17 assists and added four aces and five digs, while senior Riley McDonough (Gilford, N.H.) posted 13 assists and four digs.
- Senior Makayla Marucci (Newton, Mass.) had nine digs to pace the defense, while classmate Imalay Rodriguez Martinez (Juncos, Puerto Rico) added eight digs.
- Plymouth State racked up 43 kills, while limiting St. Joe's to just 20.
- The Panthers held Saint Joseph's to an attack percentage of .000 or less in three of the four sets.
- Plymouth State has dominated the all-time series, winning 21-of-23 meetings, including each of the last seven.
Up Next:
- The Panthers head to Salve Regina for a pair of non-conference matches on Saturday (Sept. 21). PSU will square off against the host Seahawks at 11:00 a.m., before matching up against St. Joseph's of Long Island at 1:00 p.m.
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