Saint Michael's College

SAN MARCOS, Calif. - The Saint Michael's College women's volleyball team completed play at California State University San Marcos' Cougar Classic on Saturday in the Sports Center. The Purple Knights lost to the University of California, Merced, 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-20), and the University of Minnesota Crookston, 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-13). First-year libero Sarah Gordon (Dyer, Ind./Marian Catholic) was named to the all-tournament team.
 
TOURNAMENT FACTS

• Saint Michael's traveled west of the Mississippi River for the first time.
• The Purple Knights faced each team for the first time.

Match 1
RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (1-5), UC Merced (2-4)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Gordon, 12 digs, 2 aces
• Sophomore Tessa LaFrenier (Narragansett, R.I./North Kingstown/Adelphi), 6 kills, 6 digs
• Junior Nora Schulze (Hingham, Mass./Hingham), 6 kills
• Sophomore Lillie King (Livermore, Calif./Carondelet), 4 kills
• Sophomore Rory Tower (Fountain Hills, Ariz./Desert Mountain), 3 kills, 2 blocks
• Senior Ashley Marshall (Escondido, Calif./Escondido Charter), 11 assists

OPPONENT LEADERS

• Senior Morgan Wilson, 10 kills, .471 hitting
• Junior Yahaira Vazquez, 10 kills
• Sophomore Natalie Riley, 9 kills, 13 digs
• Senior Kyra Miller, 34 assists
• Senior Jazmine Banks, 11 digs, 5 aces

THE ACTION

• The Bobcats benefited from five errors to take a 7-0 lead in the opening set before the Purple Knights rallied within 10-9 on Marshall's ace. However, UC Merced later used a 5-0 run to create breathing room and lead 17-11, and never again led by fewer than four points.
• UC Merced scored the first four points of the second set before putting together a 7-1 run mid-set to pull away.
• A 5-0 run swung a two-point deficit into a 10-7 Bobcat lead in set No. 3 before consecutive Gordon aces tied the teams at 10. Banks dropped two aces in a 3-0 response, and the Purple Knights never again trailed by fewer than three points.

Match 2
RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (1-6), Minnesota Crookston (2-5)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Schulze, 5 kills, 2 blocks
• Tower, 4 kills, .375 hitting
• Marshall, 14 assists
• Gordon, 8 digs
• Junior D'Niaya Settles (Ames, Iowa/Ames), 6 kills
• Sophomore Caitlin Mediate (Portsmouth, R.I./Portsmouth), 9 digs

OPPONENT LEADERS

• Senior Madison Carsten, 14 kills, .560 hitting, 2 blocks
• Junior Lexi Scharold, 9 kills, .562 hitting, 4 blocks
• First-year Brooklyn Gysbers, 8 kills, .727 hitting
• Sophomore Ellery Ehresmann, 36 assists, 7 digs, 2 blocks

THE ACTION

• Saint Michael's was down only 5-4 in the opening set before the Golden Eagles notched 12 of the next 15 points.
• Strong service from LaFrenier helped the Purple Knights lead 5-2 in the second set, but Carsten had four kills in an 11-4 response. Minnesota Crookston continued to lead by no fewer than three points.
• An error sparked a tiebreaking 5-0 run for the Golden Eagles in set No. 3 that made it 8-3, but the Purple Knights tied the set at 11 apiece on a dual block from Schulze and Tower. LaFrenier's kill later had her team down just 14-13, but Minnesota Crookston scored the final 11 points.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S MATCH

• Tuesday vs. Middlebury College, 7 p.m.