Springfield, Mass. - September 6, 2014 -The Springfield College women's volleyball team defeated Rivier and Amherst in straight sets on Saturday afternoon to capture the Springfield College Invitational in Blake Arena.  Kelsey McGayhey (Shelter Island, N.Y.) was named the Most Outstanding Player of the weekend.

With the victories, Springfield improves to 4-0 on the season.

In the championship match, McGayhey produced a match-high 12 kills while hitting .409.  Jamie Schneck (Livingston, N.J.) came off the bench to register seven kills at a .500 clip, while Lauren Holt (Granby, Conn.) added seven kills and four blocks. 

Amy Entel (Berkley, Mass.) was credited with a team-best 14 digs, and Jennifer Hurwitz (Longmeadow, Mass.) stuffed the stat sheet with 11 digs, six kills, four blocks, and two aces.

Molly Giannattasio (East Lyme, Conn.) and Elise Brogan (Andover, Mass.) joined McGayhey on the All-Tournament team.  Giannattasio had 21 assists and four aces in the title match, and Grogan continued her strong play in the middle, adding four kills and a pair of blocks.

In the opening set, Springfield's offense was dominant, tallying 18 kills on a .378 hitting percentage.  The Pride stormed out to a 13-4 lead, and behind five kills from each McGayhey and Holt, eased to a 25-14 win.

The Pride trailed 18-16 late in the second set, but regrouped and poured on a 9-2 surge to close out the game for a 25-20 victory.  Francesca Mack (Amston, Conn.) paced Springfield with four kills in the stanza.

Amherst got as close as 12-9 in the third, but a 7-3 surge capped off by another McGayhey put the Pride in control up 19-12, and Hurwitz sealed the victory with her second ace of the match.

Springfield 3, Rivier 0
Elise Brogan (Andover, Mass.) led the way with 12 kills to pace the Springfield College women's volleyball team to a three-game sweep of Rivier in the semifinals of the Springfield College Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

Kelsey McGayhey (Shelter Island, N.Y.) continued her strong start to the season, posting 10 kills at a .429 clip to go with three blocks, while Lauren Holt (Granby, Conn.) added a match-high six blocks and five kills. 

Molly Giannattasio (East Lyme, Conn.) totaled three of Springfield's nine aces and combined with Marnae Mawdsley (Bolton, Conn.) to lead the Pride to a .364 hitting percentage as a team.

Springfield College Invitational

Amherst 3, Johnson and Wales 0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-12)
Stevens 3, Rivier 1 (25-20, 25-11, 23-25, 25-9)
Springfield 3, Rivier 0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-14)
Amherst 3, Stevens 1 (25-15, 25-10, 26-28, 25-23)
Johnson and Wales 3, Westfield State 1 (25-17, 18-25, 25-22, 25-17)
Springfield 3, Amherst 0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-17)

All-Tournament Team

Emily O'Reilly - Rivier
Sydni Horner - Stevens
Asha Walker - Amherst
Katie Warshaw - Amherst
Elise Brogan - Springfield
Molly Giannattasio - Springfield
Kelsey McGayhey - Springfield MVP