Springfield, Mass. – September 6, 2008 – Fueled by the Invitational Most Valuable Player Aylene Ilkson (Baldwin, N.Y.), the Springfield College women’s volleyball team won a pair of games on Saturday en route to the Springfield College Invitational Championship.

In its first game of the day, the Pride rallied past Trinity in five games, 23-25, 16-25, 25-22, 25-16, 15-9. The Pride then went on to sweep its third match of the weekend as it down Rhode Island College, 25-17, 25-14, 25-18.

Ilkson was outstanding against Trinity as she erupted for 17 kills and 20 digs to lead the way for Springfield. Heather Lively (Royalston, Mass.) chipped in with 12 kills, while Sarah Lang-Rodean (Mansfield, Conn.) added 10 kills. Jessica Baldwin (Fairport, N.Y.) also added four service aces.

In its final match of the Invitational, the Pride cruised past Rhode Island College behind Ilkson’s 11 kills and Lively’s eight.

Scores of Day 2 of Springfield College Invitational

Trinity 3, SUNY-Cobleskill 1 –26-28, 25-18, 25-10, 25-13
Springfield 3, Trinity 2 — 23-25, 16-25, 25-22, 25-16, 15-9
Emerson 3, Rhode Island College 0 — 25-18, 25-15, 29-17
Springfield 3, Rhode Island College 0 — 25-17, 25-14, 25-18
Emerson 3, SUNY-Cobleskill 0 — 25-15, 25-15, 15-16

All Tournament Team
Shorna Brown – SUNY-Cobleskill
Emily Borsting – Trinity
Jackie Gervais – Rhode Island College
Sara Rutan – Emerson
Lauren Zaniboni – Emerson
Heather Lively – Springfield
Aylene Ilkson – Springfield – Most Outstanding Player

Aylene Ilkson, Jess Baldwin, and Heather Lively