When and Where: August 27, 2022 – Manchester, N.H. (Stan Spirou Field House)
Match 1 Score: Southern New Hampshire University 3, Kutztown University 0
Match 2 Score: Southern New Hampshire University 3, Roberts Wesleyan College 0
Records: SNHU 2-0, KU 1-1, RWC 0-2
Senior Juliana Pacini (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and redshirt-junior Ana Pimenta (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) combined for 39 kills, as the Southern New Hampshire University women's volleyball team won a pair of matches Saturday at the Stan Spirou Field House. SNHU blanked Kutztown University, 3-0, in the opener, before resting in the middle tilt of the tri-match and then coming back to sweep Roberts Wesleyan College in three sets.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Pacini – 20 kills (3.30 k/s), .395 pct., 3 aces, 11 digs (1.83 d/s)
- Pimenta – 19 kills (3.17 k/s), .471 pct., 1 ace, 12 digs (2.00 d/s), 5 blocks (0.83 b/s)
- Senior Dai Thawnghmung (Lowell, Mass.) – 16 kills (3.20 k/s), .324 pct., 1 ace, 13 digs, (2.60 d/s)
- Graduate student Alice Arletti (Modena, Italy) – 13 kills (2.17 k/s), .455 pct., 1 ace, 5 digs, (0.83 d/s), 4 blocks (0.67 b/s)
- Graduate student Sara Montefameglio (Turin, Italy) – 64 assists (10.67 a/s), 9 aces, 15 digs (2.50 d/s)
- Sophomore Deanne Wilson (No. Collins, N.Y.) – 22 digs (3.67 d/s), 2 aces, 4 assists (0.67 a/s)
KEY MOMENTS – KUTZTOWN MATCH
- Kutztown pulled within one early in the opening set before the Penmen reeled off 17 of the next 22 points to bust open a 21-8 lead. Pacini, Pimenta and Arletti each contributed a pair of kills during the stretch.
- SNHU led by four in the second stanza when a 14-3 rush – highlighted by four kills from Thawnghmung and three aces from Montefameglio – opened up a 21-6 advantage it would never give back.
- The Penmen fell behind, 2-0, in the final frame when a kill and an ace from Thawnghmung jump-started a 10-3 spurt that halted any of the Golden Bears' momentum and allowed SNHU to eventually take the match.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE – KUTZTOWN MATCH
- Set scores were 25-12, 25-16, 25-15.
- Pimenta led the way with a match-high 11 kills (.450), nine digs and four blocks.
- Pacini tallied 10 kills (.375), two aces and three digs.
- Thawnghmung narrowly missed a double-double with 10 kills (.444) and nine digs.
- Arletti posted seven kills (.308), three digs and two blocks.
- Montefameglio handed out 35 assists, to go with four aces and eight digs.
- Wilson collected 11 digs.
- SNHU outhit Kutztown in all three sets, as well as .360-.078, overall.
- The Penmen held advantages in aces (8-2) and blocks (6-2).
KEY MOMENTS – ROBERTS WESLEYAN MATCH
- SNHU trailed, 17-15, in the initial set when it used a 9-0 blitz to seize a commanding 24-17 advantage. Junior Claire Wohlleber (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Thawnghmung each submitted a pair of kills during the run, while Montefameglio racked up three aces.
- The second set was a five-point affair when the Penmen ended it by scoring 15 of the next 18. Thawnghmung, Pimenta and Pacini each tallied a pair of kills, while Wilson collected two aces.
- Tied, 3-3, in the third, a balanced 7-0 attack gave the hosts a 10-3 they would not give back.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE – ROBERTS WESLEYAN MATCH
- Set scores were 25-19, 25-8, 25-13.
- Pacini posted 10 kills (.421) and eight digs to pace the Penmen.
- Pimenta registered eight kills (.500) and three digs.
- Montefameglio tallied 29 assists, five aces and seven digs.
- Arletti turned in six kills (.667), two digs and a pair of blocks.
- Thawnghmung added six kills and four digs.
- Wilson chimed in with another 11 digs.
- Freshman Chiara Di Valerio (Terni, Italy) chipped in four kills (.500) and four digs.
- Wohlleber also kicked in four kills (.286)
- SNHU outhit Roberts Wesleyan in all three sets, as well as .388-.026 for the match.
- The Penmen owned a 9-3 margin in aces and doubled-up the Redhawks, 4-2, in blocks.
NOTES
- Southern New Hampshire begins the season 2-0 for the first time since 2019 when it also opened the year with a pair of three-set victories.
- The Penmen even the series with Kutztown, 3-3, while improving to 3-1 against Roberts Wesleyan. SNHU has won three-in-a-row against both teams, not dropping a single set to either squad during that time.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Penmen return to action Sunday (Aug. 28) when they host the remaining three matches of their portion of the SNHU/Saint Anselm Tournament at the Field House. The Penmen take on D'Youville College at 10 a.m. and Saint Michael's College at 3:30 p.m. Roberts Wesleyan and Saint Michael's play the middle match at 1 p.m.
For the latest on Southern New Hampshire University athletics, follow the Penmen via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Instagram. You can also sign up to receive text message alerts and e-mail newsletters about your favorite Penmen teams.
