Springfield, Mass. — September 4, 2010 — Senior Heather Lively became just the fifth player in program history to record 1,000 career kills as the Springfield College women’s volleyball team captured the Springfield College Invitational on Saturday. The Pride defeated Daeman, 3-0, and Roger Williams, 3-1, in the championship match in Blake Arena.

Springfield finished with a 4-0 slate during the two-day tournament. Lively reached the milestone in the championship match and now has 1,011 kills in just 75 matches at Springfield College after transferring in as a sophomore.

In the championship match for SC versus Roger Williams, Lively finished with 17 kills, while committing only five errors in 36 swings. Meanwhile, Sarah Lang-Rodean chipped in with 15 kills at an incredible .500 clip, while Lauren Torvi finished with 14 kills. After losing the opening set 27-25, junior defensive specialist, Jenna Lebowitz made her season debut, facing her sister Emily, Roger Williams’ setter. Lebowitz added 8 digs and an ace, providing Springfield with a much needed lift as they went on to win the final three sets and capture the Springfield Invitational. 

Also in that match Meaghan Hart had 18 digs, while Kelsea Hellyar had 52 assists.

In the match versus Daeman, Hellyar produced 39 assists, while Lively had 15 kills and just three errors on 29 attempts for a .401 percentage. With Springfield trailing 19-21, first year player Lindsay Runge made her first collegiate appearance and connected on five consecutive jump serves, including one for an ace, to put Springfield on top 23-21.    Deaman came back to tie the score at 23 before Springfield closed out the set, 27-25.

For the entire weekend, Lively, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, had 56 kills with 16 errors on 125 swings, good enough for a .320 percentage and 4.3 kills per game.

Hellyar was chosen as the Invitational’s Most Valuable Player as she handed out an average of 10.92 sets per game and led the Pride to a .284 hitting percentage as a team.

Day Two Results — Saturday, September 4
Minnesota Morris 3, Rivier 1 (25-22, 25-18, 21-25, 25-18)
Roger Williams 3, Westfield State 0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-16)
Brandeis 3, Lasell 0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-20)
Springfield 3, Daeman 0 (26-24, 27-25, 25-17)
Roger Williams 3, Brandeis 0 (25-17, 25-23, 27-25)
Westfield State 3, Lasell 0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-21)
Springfield 3, Roger Williams 1 (25-27, 25-17, 25-19, 25-22)

2010 Springfield Invitational All-Tournament Team:
Kelsea Hellyar — Springfield (MVP)
Heather Lively — Springfield
Jill Hurd — Roger Williams
Kelsey Twarog — Roger Williams
Jordan Olerud — Minnesota Morris
Kaitlin Watchey — Daeman
Paige Blasco — Brandeis