HAVERFORD , Pa. – Highlighted by 25 kills and 29 digs by freshman Annika Schwartz, the Stevenson women's volleyball team defeated Haverford 27-25, 25-18, 22-25, 23-25, 15-5 before sweeping No. 22 UMass Boston 25-20, 25-18, 25-22 Sunday afternoon at the Haverford Invitational.
The Mustangs (3-1) are 6-4 in five-set matches over the past four years and have now posted their third win in as many seasons over a ranked opponent.
Stevenson placed second after finishing with just one loss along with Susquehanna and Haverford. Stevenson and Susquehanna were tied with 24 points lost in sets head to head but since the Crusaders top the Mustangs, they were declared the champion.
In the first match versus the Fords (2-1), Schwartz posted a game-high 15 kills and adding 20 digs while sophomore Kristen Brooks added a double double of her own with 11 kills and 13 digs. After posting double digit kills in just eight of her 39 matches a season ago, Brooks has now totaled at least 10 kills in three of four matches this season.
Sophomore Sara Bollinger posted new career highs in assists and digs with 52 and 17, respectively. Meanwhile, freshman Lauren Weaver totaled 12 kills, three digs and two blocks.
The Mustangs had five players total at least 10 digs, including senior Samantha Perillo who had a career-high 39. Perillo, who also totaled four service aces, has recorded at least 30 digs in seven matches in her career.
After dropping the third and fourth sets, Stevenson jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the decisive fifth-set and totaled four service aces, including two on the final three points by junior Kara Anderson.
Brooks and senior Megan Miller combined for six blocks.
Haverford was led by Keri Godbe who totaled 14 kills, 27 digs and two blocks. Nina Mutty and Jeanna Kenney combined for 43 digs.
Against the 22nd-ranked Beacons (1-3), Schwartz again had a game-high in kills, this time totaling eight. Brooks and Perillo combined for 28 of the teams 51 digs. The trio combined for all five of the teams service aces. Already the school leader for digs in a career, Perillo is 91 shy of 2,000.
UMass Boston was led by Elizabeth Glavan who had a match-high 24 digs.
Perillo and Schwartz were named to the all-tournament team.
Stevenson returns to action on Friday, September 6 when the Mustangs face Goucher in the Greg Giovannazzi Memorial Tournament hosted by Johns Hopkins. Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
