PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Sya McKay (Somersworth, N.H.) notched a match-best eight kills and hit .583 to lead Plymouth State University to a sweep of Fitchburg State University, 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-14), in a non-conference women's volleyball match at Foley Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.
McKay had four kills without an error in the opening set as the Panthers raced out to a 10-1 lead and never looked back. PSU served seven aces and limited Fitchburg State to a -.300 attack percentage in set two, then used a lengthy service run from sophomore
Neve Tyler (Hebron, Conn.) to turn an 11-9 lead into a 10-point advantage before McKay's final kill sealed the victory.
Plymouth State improves to 2-0, while the Falcons drop their season opener.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Fitchburg State 0
- Plymouth State (2-0)
- Fitchburg State (0-1)
How it Happened:
- Junior Danielle Emerson (Biddeford, Maine) served nine straight points as PSU took an early 10-1 lead. Fitchburg State pulled to within 15-11, but junior Addison Soleau (Niantic, Conn.) slammed a kill and a string of errors helped the Panthers pull away. A service error gave PSU a 25-14 win.
- The Panthers led by just three, 10-7, in set two before junior Sydney Riley (Haverhill, Mass.) smashed a kill. Sophomore Emily Sousa (Farmington, Conn.) followed with a pair of aces during a long service run to extend the lead to 17-7. Classmate Alice Borriello Diaz (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) added two aces of her own during another Panthers' run, and Riley's winner closed out a 25-10 victory.
- Fitchburg State hung with the Panthers through the first half of the third set, trailing just 11-9. A missed serve gave PSU some momentum and Tyler followed with a pair of aces as the lead ballooned to double digits, 19-9. The teams traded points from there, with McKay sealing the win with her final kill of the match.
By the Numbers:
- McKay posted eight kills, two aces, four digs and two blocks.
- Senior Annalyn Cahill (Mystic, Conn.) chipped in six kills.
- Tyler had three of the team's 11 aces, while Borriello Diaz and senior Christa Imbriano (Wakefield, Mass.) had seven digs apiece.
- PSU outhit the Falcons .308 to -.160.
- Plymouth State trailed for just the opening point of the match.
- The Panthers improve to 2-0 against Fitchburg State. Both wins have come in straight sets.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State has three matches at the Roger Williams Invitational this weekend, opening with the host Hawks on Friday (Sept. 4) at 7 p.m.
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