Springfield, Mass. - September 2, 2022 - The Springfield College women's volleyball team delivered straight-set victories over Westfield State and Rivier to begin the Springfield College Invitational on Friday in Blake Arena. 

The Pride, which was receiving votes in the preseason AVCA Division III National Poll, improved to 2-0 on the season, and will play Skidmore at 1 pm on Saturday.

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Springfield 3, Westfield State 0 (27-25, 25-18, 25-8)

In the win over the Owls, Riley Donahue (South Windsor, Conn.) made her an impressive Springfield debut in Maroon and White as she totaled 15 kills and 12 digs, while Elsie Phillips (Granby, Conn.) delivered eight kills and six blocks in the middle.  First-year Megan Kirtyan (Massapequa, N.Y.) handed out 35 assists and Ally Townsend (Hummelstown, Pa.) led all palyerd with 23 digs in her first match in Blake Arena.   

After going down 14-8 in the first set, Springfield battled back, fighting off a set point at 24-23 before Phillips and Natalie Billet (Commack, N.Y.) sealed for a set-sealing block in the 27-25 win.  Abigail Wright (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) was critical in the run from the service line as she ripped a pair of aces to fuel the comeback. 

The Pride broke open a 16-all second set with a 9-2 burst to take a 2-0 lead in the match as Donahue converted on seven kills in the frame, include three-straight down the stretch to lead Springfield to a 25-18 win. 

Springfield raced out to an 11-2 lead in the third following a kill from Phillips and would coast to a 25-8 win as the hosts hit .375 in the stanza and totaled 15 kills, including five from Donahue.

Springfield 3, Rivier 0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-19)

Donahue again shouldered the offensive load against Rivier as she racked up 14 kills and added four aces, while Billet added seven kills of her own at a .375 clip.  Townsend was impressive on the defensive end with 28 digs and Kirtyan was credited with 28 helpers. 

Midway through the first, Phillips found the court for a kill as the Raiders burned a timeout facing a 16-9 deficit. It was a heavy dose of Donahue down the stretch, as her fourth kill of the match ended the 25-21 first-set victory. 

The Pride showed plenty of fight in the second, clawing its way back from a 15-9 hole with an 11-4 burst that was capped off by an ace from Townsend.  Springfield fought off a set point before back-to-back attack errors by the visitors allowed the Pride to complete its 26-24 win. 

In the third, Townsend was sensational with 15 digs, while Billet and Donahue combined for 10 kills as the Pride jumped out to a 17-10 lead and held on for a 25-19 triumph.