BOX SCORE

When and Where: November 6, 2015 – Manchester, N.H. (SNHU Fieldhouse)
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 3, Southern Connecticut State University 0, (28-26, 25-8, 25-16)
Records: SNHU 10-13 (5-6 NE-10), Southern Connecticut 6-24 (1-12 NE-10)

Sophomores Marisa Coronis (Hudson, N.H.) and Carolyn Scacchi (Peabody, Mass.) each recorded 10 kills and hit plus-.400 as the Southern New Hampshire University volleyball team swept past Southern Connecticut State University, 3-0, Friday evening at the SNHU Fieldhouse. The Penmen held off the Owls in the first set, 28-26, and then easily won the next two sets, 25-8 and 25-16.

Coronis hit .600 on 15 attempts, while Scacchi swung 24 times at a .417 clip. Senior Nina McGouldrick (Richardson, Texas) chipped in eight kills and 12 digs, while fellow senior Maeghan Higgins (Hesperia, Calif.) and sophomore Kathleen Schurman (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) added 16 and 10 digs, respectively. Senior Catherine Cotton (Murphy, Texas) tallied up 30 assists to go along with three service aces.

Neither team ever led by more than two in the tight opening set. Southern New Hampshire trailed, 24-23, before two straight points, including a service ace from McGouldrick, put the Penmen on top, 25-24. The Owls then tied it before the teams traded points to leave the set even at 26-all until a pair of SNHU points, including a set-winning block from Scacchi and junior Megan Salamun (Scottsdale, Ariz.), gave the Penmen the first-set victory.

Southern New Hampshire trailed, 3-2, in the second set until an 11-1 surge, with five kills from Scacchi and four from Coronis, opened up a 13-4 lead for the Penmen. Southern Connecticut halted the stretch with a pair of points, but SNHU closed the set on a 12-2 run – highlighted by a pair of Cotton service aces – to go up 2-0 in the match.   

SNHU held a 5-4 edge early in set No. 3 when a 5-1 spurt opened the lead to 10-5. The Owls would close to within 18-15, but the Penmen capped the set with seven of the last eight points, including a pair from Salamun, to take the match.

Notes:
-The win is big for Southern New Hampshire's postseason hopes as it moves them to within a half-game of the final playoff spot in the Northeast-10 standings.
-The Penmen outhit the Owls, .314-.130 including .321-(.179) in the middle set.
-The .314 hitting percentage is the highest for SNHU since it hit .342 in a Sept. 19 sweep of Saint Michael's College.

Up Next:
The Penmen return to action Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. when they play host to American International College on Senior Day at the SNHU Fieldhouse.

For the latest on Southern New Hampshire University athletics, follow the Penmen via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Instagram. Sign up to receive text message alerts and e-mail newsletters about your favorite Penmen teams here.