GORHAM, Maine – Spalding University (Ky.) (1-2) defeated Saint Joseph's College (1-2), 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-18) in a non-conference women's volleyball match played at the University of Southern Maine on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The opening set was close with three lead swings early, but Spalding posted a 5-0 run midway through the frame to secure an 18-12 cushion and – with the help of seven aces in the first set alone - the Golden Eagles cruised to the 25-17 win.

Spalding jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the second set and held an 18-11 lead after Abigail Ratts blocked an SJC kill attempt. The Monks fought back into contention with a 6-2 run, which was capped by a Hanna Webster (Alvin, Texas) service ace to make it a 20-17 score, but Spalding closed out the set by netting five of the following six points.

With the help of three Spalding attack errors, St. Joe's opened with a 4-0 run in the third set. The score was tied, 8-8, later in the frame but the Golden Eagles took the lead for good – as it played out – when Kaylee Baker posted a kill. Spalding later turned a one-point (13-12) lead into a six-point advantage with five unanswered points, a string that included a pair of Jayda Branch kills and went on to claim a 25-18 set win and 3-0 match triumph.

LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:

• Webster led the Monks with six kills and added five total blocks for 11 total points
• Sophomore Maggie Sylvester (Barrington, N.H.) tallied five kills and nine digs
• Senior Amanda Darby (Shrewsbury, Mass.) added 10 assists
• Freshman Victoria Briones (El Paso, Texas) posted a team-high 11 digs
• First-year Nadia Sixto (Chattanooga, Tenn.) contributed three kills and three block assists

LEADERS – SPALDING:

• Branch posted a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs and added four aces and three block assists for 17.5 total points
• Ella Clark delivered 23 assists, three aces, and eight digs
• Baker produced eight kills and Ratts added six kills and four total blocks

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

Today's match was the first-ever between the Monks and Golden Eagles.

NEXT!

The Monks will play at Colby College on Tuesday at 7:30 PM.

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