Rindge, NH - The Adelphi University volleyball team took their 11-game win streak on the road on Friday, October 24, traveling to Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire for a Northeast-10 contest. All-American middle blocker
Kaitlyn DeStefano paced the Panthers to a hard fought, 3-0 win (27-25, 25-18, 27-25) with 13 kills, hitting .500 on the night, to help Adelphi raise their overall record to 12-9 and remain undefeated in NE-10 play at 9-0. The host Ravens slip to 13-9 and 6-4 in conference action.
The Panthers opened the game hot, streaking out to a 6-0 lead before the hosts could muster a challenge. However, Franklin Pierce stormed back, scoring 12 of the next 15 points to take a three point edge, 12-9. Adelphi then used a 5-1 spurt to get back on top, 14-13 and from there it became a back and forth affair, with no one able to take more then a two point lead. The first set was deadlocked at 24 when the Brown and Gold scored three of the final four points, including kills from
Mandy Stanislovaitis and DeStefano to take a 1-0 lead, 27-25.
The second set started out tighter and was knotted at seven by a
Shelby Stoner hammer. Stoner's kill managed to spark a 7-2 Panther run that blew the set open and put the Brown and Gold in front, 14-9. From there, Adelphi scored 11 of the final 20 points in the set to collect a 25-18 win and take control of the match, 2-0.
The third and final set was the closest of the night, with a total of 16 ties and extra points required to find a winner. It was a back and forth one-point set, until a 3-1 Raven spurt gave the hosts a three point lead, 21-18 and forced Adelphi to take a timeout. However, the Panthers rallied to pull even at 22 on a Franklin Pierce attack error. The set would remain tied at 25 extra points, but a Stanislovaitis kill and Raven miscue sealed the win and the match for the Brown and Gold, 27-25.
Haley Blunt helped lead the offense, totaling 11 kills and adding nine digs, while Stoner chipped in nine kills and three blocks in the win.
Sierra Crook led the defense with a team-high 11 digs, while
Alayna Jackson captained the offense with 38 set assists.
Adelphi returns to action on Saturday, October 25 when they travel to Manchester, New Hampshire for a Northeast-10 Conference clash with Southern New Hampshire University.
