Rindge, N.H. - The calendar might now read November, but the Adelphi University volleyball team is still hot. After an unbeaten month of October, the Panthers scored another 3-0 sweep—their 11th straight win—at Franklin Pierce University on Friday night.
Adelphi (21-5, 8-1 NE10) has also won its last 20 sets in a row, dating back to a 3-2 win at Queens College on Oct. in which it trailed 2-1.
Against the Ravens (7-10, 2-7 NE10), three 'Cats swung for at least 10 kills, with
Lilyen McCarthy leading the way for the second match running. Not only did the junior middle hitter post a match-high 14 kills, she also recorded a .462 hitting percentage that helped Adelphi hit .360 as a team—its third-most efficient output of the season.
McCarthy was joined in double figures by
Noelle Alberda and
Delaney Kiendra, who each swung for 10 kills. Kiendra hit a match-best .500, while
Samantha Meehan hit .462 and fell just short of double figures with nine kills.
Brenna Valsted kept that offense purring over the course of three sets with 41 assists, her second-most in a match this year, and added a team-high 12 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
Jaydin Nowak matched her with 12 digs.
But despite those sparkling offensive numbers, the Panthers' sets-won streak briefly looked in danger as the Ravens led 20-16 in the third set. McCarthy and Meehan, though, were interested in none of that: The classmates swung for six kills down the stretch to help Adelphi win nine of the last 12 points.
The Panthers finish their swing through New Hampshire on Saturday with a 1 p.m. NE10 tilt, their penultimate regular-season contest.