WILKES-BARRE, PA (October 23, 2021) -- The King's College women's volleyball team cruised through six straight sets as they handily defeated William Paterson University, 3-0, before finishing the day with a 3-0 win over John Jay College. The Monarchs were able to honor their eight seniors between games on their way to a senior day sweep in McGrane Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

vs. William Paterson - W, 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-18):
King's (19-3, 3-3 MAC Freedom) stormed out to an early 20-10 lead capped off by back-to-back block assists from senior Danielle Kitchner and sophomore Emily Scott. William Paterson (11-10, 3-5 NJAC) responded with an 11-3 run to pu within one, 23-22, but consecutive kills from Scott and senior Sarah Hayward put the opening set away with the Monarchs on top, 25-22.

It was a similar story in the second set as the Monarchs held the early 14-3 lead after a kill from senior Olivia Bunch. After a back-and-forth bout between the teams, the Pioneers scored three straight to inch within 20-13 before King's took advantage of two William Paterson errors to pull ahead 24-13. The Pioneers used one more push behind five unanswered points to close within six, 24-18, but a Kitchner kill finished off the set, 25-18, with King's leading the match, 2-0.

A 10-0 run to start the final set of the match as King's commanded the entire set, never allowing the Pioneers to close the deficit closer than four points as the Monarchs earned the 25-18 set three win and the match, 3-0.

The dynamic duo of Bunch and Kitchner continues to lead the Monarchs offense. Bunch totaled 11 kills with nine digs and a block, while Kitchner totaled 10 kills and six blocks. Sophomore Emily Scott totaled a career-best seven kills and three blocks, while Hayward added five kills and three blocks. Setter Wiatt Hoffmann dished out 28 assists with 12 digs and three blocks. For the defense, senior Karissa Hartzell recorded a team-best 15 digs with four service aces, and senior Toni Galasso added 10 digs.

The Pioneers were led by Leila Ksiyer and her 22 kills and 15 digs, Kristin Volavka tallied 35 assists, and Dakota Apicella added 18 digs.

As a team, King's hit .220 for the match on 36 kills while William Paterson hit .094 with 39 kills. King's held the advantage in digs (62-57), aces (6-5), and blocks (9.0-1.0).

vs. John Jay - W, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-17):
It was a battle from the start as King's led, 14-13, before John Jay (7-12, 4-2 CUNYAC) scored four straight to lead 17-14. An 11-3 Monarchs run closed out the set with King's on top, 25-20.

John Jay held the early lead in the second set, 8-5, but the Monarchs had an answer, scoring the next five points including a kill from Hayward and an ace from first year Carly Shire, to lead 10-8. After the Blood Hounds tied the set, King's scored the next five points to hold off a back-and-forth effort down the stretch and win set two, 25-19, and lead the game, 2-0.

The Monarchs controlled the final set, leading 20-9. The Blood Hounds found one final spark to pull within six, 23-17, but the Monarchs earned the final two points of the set to win, 25-17, and 3-0 for the game.

Bunch rounded out the day with 11 kills, nine digs, and a block to pace the Monarchs. The pair of Kitchner and Christie Brown each added seven kills, with Kitchner adding four blocks. Hoffmann tallied 34 assists and eight digs, Toni Galasso added nine digs, and Carly Shire recorded six digs.

John Jay was led by Amanda Marte with 10 kills, Meghan Smith dished out 33 assists, and Taylor Hunt posted 11 digs.

The Monarchs hit a solid .286 for the match off 38 kills while holding the Blood Hounds to a .155. King's led in the box score in aces (5-4), blocks (4-2), and assists (38-37).

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King's wraps up its regular season schedule next week, beginning with an important MAC Freedom matchup in McGrane Gymnasium with Lycoming College. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.