Anchorwomen Stop Vikings 3-0

SALEM, Mass. – Rhode Island College defeated Salem State 25-3, 25-23 and 25-18 on Tuesday evening at Twohig Gymnasium. Amelia Murphy (North Attleboro, Mass.) led the way for the Anchorwomen with 12 kills and 15 digs as RIC improves to 1-0. The Vikings slip to 0-3 to start the year.

The Anchorwomen dominated the first set as RIC jumped out to a 13-0 lead with 12 straight points coming off the serve of Rhiannon Hodovanec (Feeding Hills, Mass.), who had six aces during the run. Nine Salem State errors led to an easy win for the Anchorwomen, who hit .462 in the first set.

The Vikings responded with a tightly played second set. Salem State built a 16-8 lead following a kill by Ella Speidel (Beverly, Mass.). However, RIC rallied back, pulling to within 21-18, following a 10-5 run. Back-to-back kills by Murphy gave the Anchorwomen their first lead of the set before two kills and a service error gave RIC a 25-23 win.

The Anchorwomen opened a 15-7 lead in set three as Salem State committed eight errors. The Vikings managed to pull to within 23-18 after a kill by Abigail O'Connor (Gilford, N.H.), but Hodovanec's sixth kill of the night and an error by Salem State gave the  Anchorwomen a 25-18 victory. 

Aubrey St. Onge (Tilton, N.H.) had 19 assists for RIC while Wynter Conlon (East Walpole, Mass.) added 28 digs. Hodovanec finished with six kills and seven digs.

Hana Hogan (Lancaster, Calif.), Speidel and O'Connor each had five kills for the Vikings. Michelle Le (Woburn, Mass.) contributed 18 digs and two aces and Eva Haralabatos (Melrose, Mass.) led Salem State with 18 assists and nine digs.