WILKES-BARRE, PA (October 16, 2019) -- In a big Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) and local rivalry match, the King's College women's volleyball team toppled the visiting Colonels of Wilkes University in straight sets, 3-0, to improve to 17-3 overall and 3-2 in MAC Freedom action. This win, the fifth straight, places the Monarchs tied for third overall with DeSales University in the MAC Freedom standings with just two conference matches remaining, both on the road with one match at Misericordia University and the other at DeSales.

The Monarchs set the tone for the match, opening the match ono a 12-4 run led by sophomore Becca Goldberg with three kills and sophomore Christie Brown with two. The Colonels answered, inching within four, 20-16, before King's ended the set on a 5-4 run led by freshman Marta Pawka with two kills, to take set one, 25-20.

Set two was a battle as neither team led by more than two points before the Monarchs built a three point lead, 15-12, off back-to-back service aces by sophomore Toni Galasso. Wilkes responded, tying the set, 15-15, off a kill by Jamey Mikovich and two Monarchs errors. Two Colonels errors gave the Monarchs a two-point lead, 17-15, before two Wilkes kills tied the set again, 17-17. King's regained the lead, off another kill by Pawka and finished the set, 8-6, to take set two, 25-23, and the lead for the match, 2-0.

King's controlled the entire third set, coming out strong with a 16-9 lead that Wilkes could not answer as the Monarchs held the Colonels to just five points from that point on in the match, finishing set three, 25-14, to sweep the Colonels, 3-0.

It was a balanced attack in this match for the Monarchs, as two Monarchs totaled double-digit kills. Goldberg posted a team-high 14 kills on 26 attempts hitting .500 for the match, while adding a career-high five total blocks and two digs. Brown also had an excellent night for the Monarchs, totaling a career-high 10 kills on 20 attempts hitting .300 and adding two blocks. Rounding out the offense for the Monarchs was Pawka who added 9 kills on 20 attempts, hitting .300.

For the defense, sophomore Taylor Mueller led with a match-high 14 digs and adding a service ace. It was also a great serving night for the Monarchs, as Galasso and Karissa Hartzell both totaled two. At the net, the Monarchs had a tremendous night, totaling eight team blocks, as sophomore Cleo Schultz totaled a career-high four and sophomore Olivia Bunch added three. Sophomore setter Wiatt Hoffmann dished out a match-high 38 assists, including the 1,500th of her career.

As a team, the Monarchs finished the match hitting .333 compared to the Colonels .167. King's also held the advantage in kills (43-38), service aces (5-3), assists (43-36), and digs (39-36).

The Monarchs are back in action as they travel to Keystone College on Friday, October 18 starting at 5:00 pm. They host their final two home matches of the season on Saturday, October 19 as they host The College at Old Westbury at 11:00 am and Medgar Evers College at 3:00 pm.