PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Southern New Hampshire University volleyball team defeated Pace University by a score of 3-2 Friday evening in Northeast-10 Conference play. The win now puts the Penmen in fifth place in the league, and moves them to 11-8 overall and 6-3 in conference action. Pace is now 4-21 and 0-10.

Games scores were 19-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-16, and 15-5.

Trailing the Setters by one game, the Penmen jumped out to an early lead in the second set. Pace was able to cut the deficit to one point at 7-6, but the Penmen answered with four straight points to force the home team to call a timeout. SNHU continued to build on its lead and led by as many as nine points at one time. The Penmen were able to reach 25 first, and evened out the match at 1-1.

Pace was able to get a good jump on SNHU in the third set taking a 10-3 lead. However, SNHU answered behind Emma Houlihan (Shoreham, N.Y.), who notched three kills in the comeback to cut the deficit to two at 14-16. But, the Setters made one last push to take the set, and to take a 2-1 lead on SNHU.

Houlihan teamed up with classmate Nina McGouldrick (Richardson, Texas) to total eight kills in the fourth set to even the match up once again, and force a deciding fifth set.

SHNU took the fifth set quickly from the Setters after scoring seven consecutive points to take a 12-3 lead, and Megan Salamun (Dallas, Texas) sealed the deal with a late kill to push the Penmen to victory.

Houlihan totaled 13 kills on the night along with two blocks, while McGouldrick added 10 kills. Catherine Cotton (Murphy, Texas) dished out 40 assists in the win.

The Penmen return to action tomorrow when they travel to Adelphi University for a 1:00 pm league game. 

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