When and Where: October 8, 2024 – Manchester, N.H. (Stan Spirou Field House)
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 3, Saint Michael's College 2
Records: SNHU 5-10 (1-1 NE10), SMC 4-11 (0-1 NE10)

Senior Julia Cavalcanti (Vineyard, Utah) registered 11 kills and five service aces, as the Southern New Hampshire University women's volleyball team pulled out a 3-2 victory against Saint Michael's College on Tuesday evening at the Stan Spirou Field House.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

• Cavalcanti – 11 kills, .500 hitting, 5 aces, 2 blocks, 3 digs
• Senior Deanne Wilson (Buffalo, N.Y.) – 15 kills, 2 aces, 8 digs
• Sophomore Elsa Gilmore (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) – 9 kills, 2 blocks, 3 digs
• Sophomore Daya Jean-Baptiste (Miami, Fla.) – 8 kills
• Junior Ella Koelb (Auburn, N.H.) – 43 assists, 3 aces, 7 digs
• Senior Eyleen Dias (Plymouth, Mass.) – 14 digs

KEY MOMENTS

• The opening set was even at 26-all when a Saint Michael's error and Cavalcanti ace put Southern New Hampshire up, 1-0, in the match.
• SMC held a 21-18 advantage in the second stanza and notched four of the final five points to level the match.
• SNHU was in front, 23-21, in the third, but the Purple Knights would force ties at 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, before a Cavalcanti kill and SMC attack error finally ended the marathon.
• The Penmen looked like they might end it in four with an 18-16 lead, but Saint Michael's ripped off six straight as part of a 7-1 blitz that left it with a 23-19 advantage. SNHU scored three of the next four, but an SMC kill sent it to a fifth and deciding frame.
• SNHU trailed 5-4 in the fifth when it notched five straight – powered by a kill and three aces from Cavalcanti – to spark an 11-1, match-clinching run. Koelb turned in a pair of aces during the stretch.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Set scores were 28-26, 19-25, 31-29, 22-25, 15-6.
• Junior Caelan Cook (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.) recorded six kills, an ace and four digs.
• Freshman Lailah Johnson (Senoia, Ga.) collected a pair of aces and eight digs.
• Saint Michael's outhit SNHU in three of the five sets, including .248-.202, overall.
• The Penmen owned a massive advantage in aces (13-5) and a narrow edge in blocks (3-2).

NOTES

• Southern New Hampshire has won two of its last three.
• SNHU leads the all-time series with the Purple Knights, 32-11. The Penmen had captured 15 of 16, including nine straight, as well as 28 of 29 sets, before SMC's three-set victory on a neutral floor back on Sept. 28. The Penmen extend their home winning streak over Saint Michael's to 16, last losing Oct. 27, 2000. SNHU had been victorious in 23 straight sets there before the Purple Knights' second-set win.

WHAT'S NEXT

• The Penmen are back in action Saturday, Oct. 12 (1 p.m.) when they travel to the University of New Haven.
• SNHU is back home Tuesday, Oct. 15 (7 p.m.) when they play host to American International College at the Stan Spirou Field House.

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