California, PA - The Adelphi University volleyball team (3-5) closed out play on Saturday, September 10 at the Vulcan Invitational with matches against the University of Charleston and host, California (PA). The Panthers topped the Golden Eagles in their first game of the day, 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-22), but dropped their final match of the tournament to the Vulcans, 3-2 (25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 22-25, 12-15). 

Adelphi vs. Charleston
The Brown and Gold jumped on Charleston early in the first set, sprinting out to a 6-0 lead, thanks in part to three kills from Melissa Rigo. The Golden Eagles dug in and got as lose as two points, 15-13, on an Adelphi miscue. However, the Panthers responded with a 5-2 spurt, reasserting control, 20-15, on the way to a 25-19 victory that was capped by another Rigo hammer.

The Golden eagles slipped out to a two point lead toward the mid-way point of the second set, 11-9 on an effort by Tori Clark. The Panthers used another quick spurt, this time a, 4-1 effort gave the Brown and Gold a 16-14 advantage. Adelphi used another small run, 4-0 to put a choke hold on the second set, 21-16, which lead to a, 25-20 win capped by a Mandy Stanislovaitis kill.

The third set was another back and forth affair early, but another Stanislovaitis effort sparked a run of gthree straight Adelphi points that put the Panthers in control, 16-14. From there the Brown and Gold kept pushing, doubling their margin from two to four on an Amanda Borges service error, 23-19. However, Charleston battled back, pulling within one point, 23-22 on an Adelphi error. However, back-to-back kills from Rigo and Stanislovaitis slammed the door and gave Adelphi a 25-22 set win and a 3-0 match win. 

Rigo had a game-high 16 kills, while Stanislovaitis added 12 and Megan Manierski led all players with 35 set assists. Defensively, the Panthers were paced by Rigo's 11 digs and teammate Rebecca Seeba also reached double figures with 10. 

Adelphi vs. California (PA)
It appeared that the Panthers were going to make quick work of their hosts after ripping through games one and two with a combined 28 kills against just nine errors, building a 2-0 lead with wins of 25-20 and 25-23. However, things started to shift in game three as California (PA) posted an attack percentage of .263 with 14 kills, while Adelphi managed just 11 kills in a 18-25 loss. 

The Vulcans kept the pressure on, registering another 14 kills in the fourth set, while Adelphi could muster just 10, falling in a close game, 25-22, which forced a decisive game five. The fifth set appeared that it was going to go Adelphi's way, thanks to an opening 4-0 run, that included kills from Madison Canestrari and Rigo. The Brown and Gold continued to lead, 10-6 in the fifth when the hosts came alive, scoring the next six points to move ahead, 12-10. Adelphi had one more run in the tank, scoring two quick points to knot the game at 12, but California (PA) answered with a 3-0 spurt, that included two Panther miscue's, to claim the set and the match. 

Rigo led three members of the Brown and Gold into double digit kills with 21, while Stanislovaitis registered 12 and Canestrari had 10. Manierski led Adelphi with 44 assists and Sierra Crook was one of four players on Adelphi with double digit digs, picking up a game-high 34. Rigo (14) ,Seeba (13), and Manierski (11) joined Crook in double figures, while Canestrari had a total of seven blocks.   

Up Next 
Adelphi will travel to Syracuse, New York on Saturday, September 17 when they travel up interstate 87 for a 11 am Northeast-10 contest with LeMoyne College. 

Notes:
- Adelphi opened the 2014 Northeast-10 season on the road against LeMoyne on September 20, picking up a 3-1 win. The Panthers are 8-3 all-time against the Dolphins.
- Melissa Rigo has led Adelphi in kills in seven of its eight matches, while Sierra Crook has led the Panthers in digs in the same number of contests.
- Melissa Rigo was named to the Vulcan Invitational All-Tournament Team. She led the Invitational in kills with 70 and was sixth in digs (53).
 

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About Adelphi Athletics:
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past seven seasons, has collected 18 regular season conference titles, 22 tournament championships, 29 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup three times (2013, 2014, and 2016), while winning five NCAA Division II National Championships.

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