SCRANTON, PA (September 8, 2021) -- Senior Danielle Kitchner led a balanced effort from the Monarch women's volleyball team as they defeated the host Marywood University Pacers, 3-0, in the Insalaco Arena on Wednesday night. King's improves to 4-0 to start the 2021 season with the win for the fourth consecutive season.

Despite the rainy forecast outside, King's was ready for a thriller this evening. Marywood (2-3) jumped out to an early 5-2 lead to start the match before the Monarchs recorded six unanswered points, including two service aces from senior Olivia Bunch. The Pacers had an answer, starting up a 10-4 run to push their lead to 15-12, but this opening set was a game of runs as seen when King's tallied an 8-1 rally with five different Monarchs recording kills in the stretch. Marywood inched within one, 19-18, before the two teams traded points down the stretch with the scoreboard reading 23 a piece. A huge kill from Bunch and a Pacers error ended the set, giving King's the 26-24 win and the early 1-0 lead.

The Monarchs used the momentum from the opening set as they cruised to lead 12-3 early in the second set. Marywood inched their way back throughout the set, pulling within two points, 23-21, but a Pacers service error and a kill from senior Cleo Schultz put an end to the set, 25-21, with King's leading the match, 2-0.

The final set of the evening mirrored the first with its back-and-forth effort from both teams. King's started the set with a 5-1 lead, but the hosts matched the start with their own 5-1 run to tie the set, 6-6. There were eight ties and three lead changes over the remainder of the set, with neither team leading by more than three points. The Monarchs came out on top using a 4-1 rally over the final stretch, defeating the Pacers, 25-22, and securing the match, 3-0.

Kitchner continued her consistent efforts, leading the Monarchs with 11 kills on 14 attempts, hitting an impressive .643, and adding a career-high five total blocks and three digs. Bunch remained solid, adding seven kills and three aces, while Schultz and sophomore Emily Scott rounded out the top hitters, totaling five and four kills, respectively.

Senior Wiatt Hoffmann posted a stat-filled night, handing out 25 assists while tacking on seven digs and four kills. The senior back-row duo of Karissa Hartzell and Toni Galasso anchored the defense in the win, with Hartzell totaling 16 digs and Galasso tallying 15.

Marywood's offense was led by Shannon Corr's game-high 14 kills. Sara Burgos recorded a double-double for the Pacers with 30 assists and 10 digs.

As a team, the Monarchs hit .188 (35-96) for the match with 35 kills off of 32 assists and five aces. They also out-paced Marywood, holding the advantage in blocks (5-1) and digs (52-39).

King's is back on the road for their fourth and fifth consecutive road matches as they travel to Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ on Saturday, September 11. The tri-match is set to begin for the Monarchs at 1:00 p.m. as they take on Rutgers-Camden before facing the host Centenary at 3:00 p.m. in the John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center.