When and Where: October 6, 2026 – Manchester, N.H. (Stan Spirou Field House)
Score: Saint Anselm College 3, Southern New Hampshire University 2
Records: SNHU 2-14 (0-2 NE10), Saint Anselm 11-5 (1-1 NE10)
Freshman Lyla Thomas (Fond Du Lac, Wisc.) and junior Jordyn Carroll (Moultonborough, N.H.) combined for 33 kills, as the Southern New Hampshire University women's volleyball team rallied to force a deciding set, but fell to Saint Anselm College, 3-2, Tuesday night at the Stan Spirou Field House.
KEY MOMENTS
- With its back against the wall facing a 2-1 deficit in the match, while clinging to an 8-7 advantage in the set, Southern New Hampshire ripped off an 11-3 run – led by a pair of kills from Thomas – to take a commanding 19-10 lead. Saint Anselm crept to within 23-19, but a Carroll kill and service ace from freshman Valentina Bugnatto (Wilmington, N.C.) sent the match to a fifth and deciding set.
NOTES
- Saint Anselm ties the all-time series, 33-33, as it wins its fourth straight over SNHU. The Hawks defeat the Penmen at the Field House for the first time since Oct. 14, 2023 (3-1). Saint Anselm swept SNHU in three sets at home back on Sept. 22.
- The opening-set victory for the Penmen snapped a nine-set losing skid against the Hawks.
- Thomas recorded 18 kills and three digs, while Carroll tallied 15 kills, two aces and seven digs.
- Bugnatto and classmate Lonnie Briggs (Omaha, Neb.) each notched seven kills.
- Freshman Emma Martinez (Plano, Texas) recorded a double-double of 42 assists and a career-high 15 digs. The 42 helpers are the fourth most of her rookie campaign.
- Fifth year Meri Ibrahimi (Woburn, Mass.) collected 29 digs – one shy of her career high.
- Saint Anselm earns another point in the Queen City Cup standings and takes a 4-3 lead in the battle for Manchester supremacy.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Penmen are back in action Saturday, Oct. 10 (1 p.m.) when they take on Franklin Pierce University.
- The next home match for SNHU is Monday, Oct. 12 (1 p.m.) when it plays host to Georgian Court University at the Field House.
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