WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 7, 2024) -- The King's College women's volleyball team won back-to-back matches on Saturday in McGrane Gymnasium. The Monarchs (5-0) defeated the Ravens of Rosemont College (0-2) 3-0. The squad also had a 3-0 sweep over the Cyclones of Centenary University (NJ) to remain victorious for the afternoon. Morgan Williams (Jr.) fueled the defensive end with a record-breaking performance of 37 digs in a three-game match against Centenary. 

vs. Rosemont College - W, 3-0 (25-6, 25-14, 25-13):
King's controlled the first set of the matchup with a 15-4 run that comprised of kills made by Madisyn Heiser-Elsea (So.), Bella Salvia (Jr.), Emma Bolich (So.), Theresa Lynch (Jr.), and Keely Hoban (Sr.). Rosemont would try to slow the Monarchs down, but the hosts maintained their momentum by producing another 10-2 burst that included tallies assembled by Kathy Shepherd (Jr.), Hannah Swinsburg (So.), and Bolich to win 25-6.

The second set started off with both teams trading points and the match tying four separate times. The score was 7-7 when the Monarchs broke free and had a 9-2 jolt thanks to points from Milena Oberle (Fy.), Viannce Sinocruz (So.), Riley McArdle (Fy.) Mia Campanile (So.), and Jessica Menze (Fy.). The Ravens were not going down quietly by answering back with two tallies for every three points King's scored. The Monarchs polished off a 25-14 victory after Lindsay Arezina (So.) collected the final kill of the set.

King's began the third and final set by being ahead 12-3 after scoring eight unanswered points to force a Rosemont timeout. The Monarchs continued to stretch their lead, but at 18-5 the Ravens earned five straight tallies. Though King's prevailed and remained victorious, 25-13.

The Monarchs finished with 36 kills, 35 assists, 12 aces, 38 digs, and a hitting percentage of .217. Brynn Giordano (So.) fueled the team with seven aces and nine digs. Shepherd had eight kills and a hitting percentage of .429. Salvia was right behind with five kills and matched her hitting percentage with .429. Sinocruz earned a career-high of 21 assists.

The Ravens' Fiona Hyland (Sr.) passed out nine assists and Bailee Greise (So.) had four kills. On the defensive end, Shenan Jackson (Gr.) produced eight digs.

vs. Centenary University (NJ) - W, 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-17):
The first set of the game started off with King's having the crowd go wild as they had a 14-5 lead thanks to kills made by Riley McArdle (Fy.), Ashley Webber (Fy.), and Bella Salvia (Jr.). Centenary began to pester their hosts and answered back with two points for every Monarch tally. It was 18-9 when the Cyclones created a 4-0 push to get within five. King's had their own response with three straight points, but Centenary was still on their tails. Coming out of a timeout, the Cyclones fired off six unanswered tallies to make the score 24-22 and the fans were at the edge of their seat, waiting for the Monarchs to respond back as the hosts were only up by two. After a kill by Lindsay Arezina (So.), King's held onto a 25-22 victory. 

The second set was unlike the first, seeing six ties and two lead changes. The scoreboard showed the match tied at 7-7 when King's went on an 16-5 run that included tallies from Webber, Arezina, Kathy Shepherd (Jr.), Viannce Sinocruz (So.), McArdle, Salvia, and Madisyn Heiser-Elsea (So.). Centenary earned back-to-back points, but with an ace made by Emma Bolich (So), the Monarchs won 25-14. 

The third and final set of the evening was much like the second. The Cyclones took over early as the Monarchs looked to take over. It was tied 8-8 when King's produced an eight-point cushion. Though Centenary had an answer by creating a 4-1 jolt to get within three. King's remained composed and notched off a 25-17 victory after an 8-3 run thanks to Heiser-Elsea, Webber, Morgan Williams (Jr.), and Sinocruz. 

The Monarchs ended with 48 kills, 46 assists, six aces, 78 digs, and a hitting percentage of .237. Williams tabbed a career-high of 37 digs and Salvia had her own career-best of 13 kills. Sinocruz earned a double-double of 21 assists and 14 digs. Webber aided the team with her own 11 kills and Keely Hoban (Sr.) dished out 15 assists. 

The Cyclones' Poppy Skjonnemaand (So.) had a team high of 14 kills with 12 digs. Vanessa Pagano (Jr.) handed out 12 assists and Jenny Thistlethwaite (So.) fueled the defense with 15 digs. 

King's will have a break before hosting Bryn Athyn at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 13^th. The squad will have a short turnaround with a home tri-match against Keystone and Medgar Evers on Saturday, September 14^th at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.