KEUKA PARK, NY (September 3, 2021) -- The King's College women's volleyball team improved to 3-0 to start their 2021 season on Friday night. The Monarchs recorded the tri-match sweep at Keuka College as they defeated the Wells College Express, 3-0, in the opener before toppling the Keuka College Wolves, 3-2, in their first five-set thriller of the season in the JMW Athletics and Recreation Center.

vs. Wells (W, 3-0 - 25-18, 25-10, 25-14):

King's (2-0) jumped out to yet another early lead to start the match as they opened the game on an 11-4 run capped off on a kill from first year Emma Monson. Wells (0-2) closed within six points, 14-8, but the Monarchs recorded nine unanswered points to hold a solid 23-8 advantage. The Express would not go away as they tallied an 8-0 run to pull within seven, but a kill from senior Sarah Hayward and an Express error secured the set one win, 25-18, for the Monarchs.

The Monarchs cruised through set two, building a daunting 17-5 advantage that Wells could not overcome as King's took the second set, 25-10.

The final set of the match saw both teams evenly matched early with King's leading 9-6 before a 6-1 run by Wells had the Monarchs trailing 12-10. King's rallied with a 15-2 run to close out the set and win the third set, 25-14, and the match, 3-0, over the Wells College Express.

Senior Olivia Bunch continued to lead the Monarchs offense, posting 10 kills and nine digs. Fellow-senior Danielle Kitchner recorded an impressive eight points on just nine attempts, hitting .889, while senior Wiatt Hoffmann totaled a double-double with 19 assists and 11 digs. Senior Karissa Hartzell paced a balanced defensive effort with 12 digs and added five service aces, and senior Toni Galasso contributed 11 digs of her own in the Monarchs back row. Additionally, senior Cleo Schultz recorded all three blocks by King's in their opening match.

Morgan Adams led Wells with five kills, Lexi Carfi controlled the offense with nine helpers and nine digs, and Caroline Barr topped the defense with nine digs.

King's hit a solid .195 for the match compared to Wells' -.075. The Monarchs also controlled all other statistical categories, including kills (28-19), aces (10-5), assists (27-17), and digs (55-31).

vs. Keuka (W, 3-2 - 19-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-19, 15-13):

King's (3-0) trailed early in the night cap, falling behind 12-3 to the host Keuka (1-2), but a quick 10-3 run pulled the Monarchs within two, 15-13. Both teams traded points over the next stretch with King's trailing by one, 19-18, but the Wolves offense sealed the deal in set one as they handed the Monarchs the early 25-19 loss.

Set two really set the tone for the remainder of the match as it featured six ties and two lead changes that resulted in the Monarchs earning the 25-21 decision to tie the match, 1-1.

The Wolves responded in the third set, leaping out to a 12-5 advantage early. The Monarchs closed to within one point, 17-16, on a service ace from Hartzell, but the Keuka defense held King's to end the set, 25-19, and regain the match lead, 2-1.

The fourth set mirrored the second as there were six ties and four lead changes that saw the Monarchs on top, 10-8, on consecutive service aces from Galasso. King's then built an 18-11 lead and used its defense to shut down Keuka over the final stretch to win set four, 25-19, and force the deciding fifth set. 

The thrilling final set did not disappoint as the two teams traded points early before the Wolves took a daunting 8-5 lead. Kills by Monson Schultz, and Bunch and two errors from Keuka gave King's a 10-8 lead. A Monarchs error tied the set at 12 before Kitchner put an end to the Keuka run as she recorded the final three points of the set to earn the 15-13 win in the set and the 3-2 decision for the match.

Monson and Kitchner led the offensive charge in the thriller with nine kills a piece with Kitchner adding a team-high four blocks. Hoffmann recorded her second double-double of the night with 31 assists and 13 digs, while Bunch remained solid for the Monarchs with seven spikes and a career-high 12 digs. Hartzell was excellent again as the anchor of the King's defense, totaling 20 digs with four aces.

Lillian Mueller led Wells with a match-high 14 kills, Delaney Yorks posted 27 assists, and Lauren Kuipers and Ericka Carlson controlled the defensive efforts with 12 digs each.

King's posted a .161 hitting percentage in their five sets, totaling 41 kills on 137 total attempts. As a team, the Monarchs also recorded seven aces, four blocks, 39 assists, and 62 digs.

The Monarchs will be back in action next week as they travel north to take on the Pacers of Marywood University on September 8 at 6:00 p.m. in the Insalaco Arena.