SANDUSKY, Ohio - On Friday, August 29, the Mount St. Joseph Lions kicked off their season in Sandusky, Ohio, with a strong showing against Worcester State and St. Mary's College.
MATCH ONE: MSJ 3 - Worcester 0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-19)
Senior Hannah Graves was a powerhouse in the Lions' season opener, racking up 17 kills on 28 total attempts and boasting a stellar .429 hitting percentage. Sophomore Sydney Doty added to the offensive firepower with 10 kills on 19 attempts, hitting at an impressive .368. Freshman Ava Moore and sophomore Ginger Johnson commanded the setting duties, dishing out 21 and 17 assists respectively.
Defensively, the Lions were anchored by sophomore Lyndsey Stephenson, donning the libero jersey for the first time in her career and tallying 19 digs. MSJ controlled the pace from start to finish, sweeping Worcester in straight sets to earn their first win of the season.
MATCH TWO: MSJ 1 - St. Mary's 3 (24-26, 25-20, 15-25, 23-25)
The Lions battled hard in their second match of the day but came up short against a tough St. Mary's squad, winning one of four closely contested sets. Graves continued her standout performance with 18 kills, while junior Emma Sicking added 15 of her own. Moore and Johnson kept the offense flowing, posting 37 and 11 assists, respectively.
On defense, Stephenson once again led the charge with 20 digs, followed by Graves with 15 and Moore with 10. Though the Lions fell in match two, their grit and intensity hinted at a promising season ahead.
UP NEXT: Mount St. Joseph women's volleyball returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, August 30, with another doubleheader, this time taking on Kenyon College and The College of Wooster.
