Sept. 16, 2005
Final Stats
The Sacred Heart volleyball split a pair of games at the Providence College Invitational Friday afternoon. The Pioneers fell to High Point, 3-1, early in the day but rebounded at night to scored an impressive 3-2 come from behind victory over the University of Hartford. SHU is now 2-5 on the young season with a pair of games on tap for Saturday at the tournament.
The Pioneers dropped the first game to High Point, 30-22, but notched a 30-28 win in game two. The Panthers closed out the match with a 30-24 win in game three and a 30-16 win in game four.
Senior Heather Brooks (Regina, SK), playing against her former team, led the Pioneers with 12 kills and three total blocks. Brooks transferred to SHU from High Point after her sophomore season. Freshman Katie Thomas (Wappingers Falls, NY) recorded 18 digs in the loss.
High Point had three players in double digits in kills with Jamie Kaufman and Michelle Feiser each coming up with 15 and Ashley Mellot notching 12.
Sacred Heart found a way to battle back in the nightcap, fighting their way out of a 0-2 hole to win three-straight and top the Hartford Hawks. Hartford, who beat SHU in three-straight games last weekend, took the first two games, 30-20 and 30-20, and appeared on the road to victory.
The Pioneers came to life, grinding out a 30-28 win in game three followed by a 30-25 win in game four to force the decisive game five sprint to 15 points. SHU came away the victor by posting a 15-9 win.
Sophomore Christine Duffy (Massapequa, NY) turned in 15 kills to go with 10 digs to lead the Pioneers. Brooks was once again impressive with 11 kills and a .476 (11-1-21) hitting percentage. She also registered seven total blocks from her middle position.
Senior Brenda Bailey (Costa Mesa, CA) finished with 13 kills, four assists, five digs and three total blocks while fellow senior Michelle Clarke (Baltimore, MD) passed out 34 assists in running the SHU attack. She also added 13 digs while Thomas had a game-best 24 and junior Justina Bell (Holcomb, KS) added 17.
Hartford's Jennifer Monroy had a game-high 23 kills to go with 15 digs. Brianne Paulson add a double double of her own with 15 kills and 10 digs.
Sacred Heart will face off with Gardner-Webb and the host Friars tomorrow afternoon on day two of the Providence Tournament.
