CASTINE, ME – Saint Joseph's (2-0) kicked off the 2012 campaign with victories over Southern Maine (0-2) and Maine Maritime Academy (1-1) at Smith Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. Senior Sarah Hawkes (Pownal, Maine) led the way with 22 kills in the opening-day sweep.

Saint Joseph's def. Southern Maine, 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-16)

Hawkes led the way in a convincing 3-0 win over the Huskies, recording 10 kills while making just one error in 20 attempts with six service aces and seven digs. Senior Kiah Begley (Berwick, Maine/St. Thomas Aquinas) tallied 21 assists, freshman Alli Hollander (Thermal, Calif.) added 13 digs, junior Erica Russi (Debary, Fla.) chipped in with nine digs, five kills and three aces, and sophomore Kaela Murphy (Salem, Mass.) registered five kills and four digs versus the Huskies.

For USM, Madalyn Terry (Kennebunk, Maine) notched seven kills and nine digs while Demi Ruder (Clifton, Colo.) recorded a match-high 23 digs in a losing effort.

Saint Joseph's def. Maine Maritime, 3-1 (25-20, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18)

With a win over tri-match host Maine Maritime in the nightcap, the Monks ended the Mariners' 41-match home winning streak. Hawkes was dominant again, registering 12 kills, eight digs and a pair of total blocks, while Begley posted a double-double effort with 31 assists and 11 digs and tacked on five aces in the triumph.

Freshman Felicia Wachowiak (Milton, N.H.) broke out in the second match of the day with eight kills and five total blocks, Russi contributed 19 digs, five kills and four aces, and junior Holly Bannister (Cumberland, Maine) chipped in with six kills in the closing match.

For Maine Maritime, Melissa Lail (Elizabeth, Colo.) belted 12 kills and six aces with 13 digs and Jennifer Dixon (Woodstock, Md.) produced 27 assists, 11 digs and five aces in the loss.

Maine Maritime returns to action next weekend at the Colby Invitational. Saint Joseph's returns home next weekend to host its own invitational, while Southern Maine travels to Daniel Webster on Wednesday.