SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Stevenson University women's volleyball team shook off an opening-set loss to down host Susquehanna University 3-1 on day one of the Hampton Inn River Hawk Classic Friday night at Houts Gymnasium.  Set scores were 21-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-20.

With the win, Stevenson (11-0) extends its season-opening win streak.  Entering the night, the Mustangs were one of just 22 remaining unbeaten teams in Division III.  Stevenson is off to its best start since 2013.

Sophomore Katie Leftridge recorded a career-best 19 kills on .457 hitting while also recording 10 digs.  Classmate Victoria Prokic hit .412 on the night and tallied nine kills and four blocks, with junior Moriah Savage adding eight kills and three blocks.  Senior Annika Schwartz finished with six kills and 11 digs.

Sophomore Caroline Dangel and Julie Nightwine each posted 20 assists, with Dangel adding 11 digs and Nightwine eight.  Senior Deanna Bradbury had a team-high 18 digs.

The River Hawks (5-5) were paced by Morgan Lowe's 20 kills.

Susquehanna broke open the first set with five straight points that turned a 12-12 tie into a 17-12 River Hawk advantage.   The Mustangs cut the lead to four twice and whittled it down to three late on a Bradbury ace that made it 24-21, but a service error closed out the set.

In the second set, the frame was tied 8-8 before a 13-2 run capped by four straight kills from Leftridge put Stevenson up 21-10.  The River Hawks pulled back within seven before a Susquehanna service error closed out the set and tied the match 1-1.

Stevenson carved out a 24-20 lead in the third set and appeared poised to take a 2-1 lead, but Lowe recorded three straight kills to pull the hosts back within a point.  However, Leftridge responded with a kill of her own to secure the 25-23 win.  In the fourth set, Stevenson jumped out to an 8-3 lead before Susquehanna pulled back within one, 9-8.  The Mustangs took control with six straight points to make it 18-10 on a River Hawk attack error, and a Prokic kill closed out the match.

The visitors overcame a -.097 hitting effort in the first set to hit .219 on the night as it hit at lead .286 in each of the final three sets. Susquehanna hit .165 as a team but hit just .062 in the final frame.

Stevenson is in action twice on Saturday, facing SUNY-Brockport at 2:00 before battling unbeaten (9-0) and No. 16 Carnegie Mellon at 4:00 on day two of the Hampton Inn River Hawk Classic.